Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 819 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

= —_— Se eS eee ¥ _ “Se 10 ‘*T hardly know what to think; Dick. ‘* Let me see the letter.” Dick handed it over, and the chief said: ‘¢ Why, bere is a postscript,” ‘* Read it, sir.” The chief did so: “TI write this letter at my home, and to show you that you are not infallible, I will take it and pin it upon the door of your room,” ‘She's a plucky one,” said Dick, admiringly. ** She is, ** But who can she be?” ; “i have not the remotést idea, I am sure, sir. *f Well, Dick, I wish you to do me a favor,” **'W hat is that, chief?” Oe ** Heed this warning.” ** No, [ cannot do that.” ; ‘*T really dread that your death will be the end of all this, and I will put my whole force to run down these fellows if you will withdraw from the work.” 3 _ “*My dear chief, you do not know me, when you ask me to ao such a cowardly act as to with- draw from a duty because my life is in danger. ** No, sir, I am in it to stay, or go under,” was the fearless response of the young detective. CHAPTER XX, A CHARGE OF THEFT, ON his way to the old rookery the chief had bought all the morning papers, and, as he was now assured that Dick Doom would not with- a from the trail of the Gold Ghouls, he said: ‘“* Here are papers, Dick, so we will look them over together, and I suppose they are full of at- tacks against me,” . ‘It would not surprise me,” and Dick picked up a copy of the Herald, when his eyes almost instantly fell upon something that startled him, for he cried: ‘* Listen to this, chief,” The chief was all attention at once, and Dick read aloud: , ‘New Yorg, March 4th, 18—. “Eprrork HeRALD:— ‘*Srr:—I observed in the afternoon papers of to- day that an officer of the Secret Service bureau had been stationed at the old Rookery knownas Miser ainhall’s mansion, to entrap the murderers of that old man, should they return to gather in the booty which they had failed tosecure the night of the murder. ‘** Now in all of the reports, and I read every paper and the corcner’s inquest, not a word was said as to this booty. “This leads to the conciusion that none was found, whereas a bag of booty was secured, and it was the man who carried it that this unknown of- ficer of the Secret Bureau shot down, n “Why did he not "eport the finding of this booty, - or rather that he secured it? “Simply that he might keepit for himself, as he- has done, forhe hid it away to enrich himself at some future time, when this noise of the affair had blown over, . ‘* Being the one who got that booty, who packed the bag which this unknown Officer of the Secret Service sepines, I copy from my own inventory the articles it contained, and which are as fellows: _ “A get of solid silver table-service, of fifteen pieces. | ‘A silver water pitcher. “Six silver quart tankards, or mugs. * All of these were old style, . “Six dozen silver forks. ‘“*Three dozen silver table spoons, — “‘ Six dozen silver dessert spoons, pa ** Six dozen silver teaspoons, Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot, ‘‘He is determined you shall not benefit by the booty he was forced to give up, Dick,” ‘‘ That is not all, sir.” ** W hat else?” ‘* He is determined to get me jailed,” ** He cannot do that, for I shall explain to the proper authorities exactly the situation.” ‘** No, don’t do that, sir.” ‘Why not?” ‘* Well, I was going to say that it would spoil all; but the best thing for you to do is to pot one of your own men in the Tombs, as one accused, and I’ll pay bim for his time well, only explain to him that there is no charge against mee see,” ‘That will, in the eyes of the public, get your unknown Secret Service man in jail, and Pll still be free to work my little racket, for I’ve got to catch these Gold Ghouls now to clear my- self of the charge of stealing that booty.” _* Very true, Dick.” ‘*Now Vl keep in hiding here to-day, and plan as I think best, and you at once make the arrest of a man whom you think best to select, and let the afternoon papers get the news of the arrest, following at once on the expose of the Herald this morning.” ‘** And you will remain here?” r Yes, sir.” ‘ ‘We'll yet show the public that we were not asleep, Dick, but on the alert, while those Gold Ghouls, believing you to have been jugged, will be bolder in their actions and give youa chance at them,” ‘* I hope so, for I am most anxious to make the acquaintance of tbat gentleman robber who signs himself A Hunted Man,” was Dick Doom’s reply. CHAPTER XXI, DICK DOOM’S VIGIL, THE afternoon papers came out, copying the letter of ‘‘ A Hunted Man,” and with the infor- mation that the chief of the Secret: Service Bureau had promply arrested the accused officer, and he was then in the Tombs, There were comments of course made that an avowed murderer and burglar should go into print to explain how an officer bad secretly held the booty he bad gone to rob the dead miser’s house of, and that he should so well secrete him- are that the detectives could find no trace of im. There, was a sign upon the gate leading into the miser’s home which read: , ‘NO ADMITTANCE!” This kept out the crowd that would like to have visited the old mansion, and all day long many were passing and repassing that way. . Dick Doom, when he saw from bis point of lookout that no one intruded, determined to once more search the mansion, and in broad day- light. . He felt thatif the treasure had been taken, from where he had placed it, then the one who took it had done so within the time of half an hour, and after daylight. - It bad been taken from the tine that he put it there and had returned with the chief, This meant, in fact could mean nothing else, than that the thief had seen him put it there. At last he had seen him carry it into the panels, so there might be one there and he be unable to discover it. oe From the library the ferret went again oves the house, and his search was kept up until it grew dark, but without results, Then he went to his room, kindled his fire, got supper and sat down to read. All was darkened so that no light streamed outside, and he kept his ears open for the slight- est sound coming from without or within. As it grew later he lighted bis dark-lantern, put out the lamp in the room, and went up into the house, He leaned cut of the open dining-room win- dow and listened for a long while. No Sound came to him save the distant rum- bling of wheels over the paved streets of the city. He then got out upon the limb and descended to thé ground, For along while he stood there, . Then he made a cautious circuit of the house, looking every where for a foe, f But in vain the search, om, ; At last he decided to return to his room, and did so, for he had the outdoor key in his pocket, as well as the one of the door leading into the hall. He cautiously entered the room, and as he did so he halted suddenly. Distinctly over his head came the sound upon the floor as though something heavy had fallen, There was no mistaking what followed, the quick movement of feet crossing the room. Hastily locking the door behind him, Dick Doom ran across the rooms and opened the door into the ball. , This, too, he locked behind him, and ascend- ing the stairs with quick, noiseless steps, he stepped into the upper corridor, crossed it to the library, opened the slide of his dark-lantern, anc threw open the door, bis revolver ready for use, CHAPYER XXII. ANOTHER SURPRISE. BE¥FonreE he threw open the library door Dick Doom had set his lantern close to it on the floor, so arranged that the bull’s-eye would throw a stream of glaring light into the room. He stepped to one side as the door was open, knowing that he sighs porter in of line ond the gleam of light, while he could com- ek: the entire Foom from his point of observ- ation, — To his amazement the empty room, : nd yet he bad distinctly heard footsteps there as he came up into the upper hall, The party in there must be concealed behind the door, or close to the wall upon either side, where he could not see them without looking in, ‘Come out, or I will fire!” he called out stern- ly. | light shone into an There was no sign of acquiescence, There was no sound, **}l] give you a minute to obey. ‘¢ Then I open fire,” | = the moment passed and not a sound was heard, Unable to longer stand the suspense Dick sao oa a it Cae his revolvers. ras or a death-struggie, But the glaring bull’s eye of the dark lantern ~ shone on empty walls. Panta 1 No one was in the room, Bidien =) Dick Doom was certainly amazed Sp ag (~~ > ~ * ~ a — —r - . > > . —_ — = eee 3 What had become of those whose footsteps he had heard? Le Who was it that had been there and had room, The thief also knew the secret spring of the panel in the chimney, that was certain. If he had seen bim there, then he was cer- } 3 ** One ladle, fish and pie knife. | “All solid slver, massive and of great value. _ “QOne set jewelry, gold and pearls, ** One set of emerald jewelry. t _ “Ove lady’s watch and chain. | tainly in the mansion. dropped something heavy upon tke floor? }. . t$One ect he ditto. ; But ere? ee had he, or they, escaped? | | A buckskin bag of old coins, worth much as rare Were there secret hiding-places which he tad They could not leave as be came up the step CCS. | not found? ; without his seeing them. _ “A leather bag of five thousand dollars in gold. — . “A leather wallet containiag some stocks: bonds ‘s and spleen e thousand dollars in cash, — | js There was in addition some gold nuggets of con- Bewildered Dick Doom paced the room, not — knowing what to do. | a At last he decided to go to the room below und get what rest he could, | ean ce. It was nearly midnight, and he could get half | a dozen hours of sleep beforedawn, wis “Tf I could be brought to believe in ghosts T certainly would believe this Route: Way mes ae with them,” he muttered 2s he closed the b essa irs y' eve lantern and went down-stairsagain, =. “He turned his lamp down: low, threw himself — upon the cot where the old miser had slept, but where he had spread his blankets, and was soon fast asleep. | | : ay He awoke wh i ee of day, though no rav of light penetrated his room. (b31) Sea ey iP e. ‘Making is toilet he opened the door to look Ni itt ao, There must be, | | The thief tco must heave either been in the house during the whole night, or he had remain- ed when the other robbers ran off. Then the thought came to the detective that ae thief could not have been one of the Gold _ siderable value, in fact the articles reserved by this’ _ Officer of the Secret Service would brin of ae thousand dollars. , 6 EOF, BEY. | attar having © Eifoin Miser Salthatt Que aneae: | Ooms . termined that the officer of the Sache! Gartiee eh If so, he might as well give up the hope of killed my pal, shall not secretly benefit’ by salting finding that booty. ee sve _ these valuables away for his own future reference. The thought placed the young ferret in a ‘y ? d recht inform you of the exact situation, and ; fever of dread, for be muttered to himself: “, ino w that it will mean that the dishonest unknown | ‘'T am ruined if I do aot clear myself of this ot erat to disgorge and go himself bebind prison charge against me, ” Hes wal 2 | | | ‘ A and began to 2; He went then to the library, -searchit mostthoroughly, He examined the walls from the floor to as high as he could reach, and yet found no place wt % ¥ b f “ ; “With respect, _ | hoe AYE oy) _.. “A Howrep Man,” | The chief gave a whistle when Dick had. k.., 8 , andasked: — | | where he suspected there was a secret door or |‘@ntattheearlymorn, = yess nade ak 1 iow has Hen what do you think OT ts AY lost, excepting the onein thechimney, | Across it was a string, and one end was at- (ae Tea. 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