Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 819 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

— oe a eee : . S — > ms “ 8 ng ee i ee 7 P. . —") ai a ~ Oa ae a _ ae ter ee ee te ee m - a ee - The young detective had decided to spend the day in moving about and to return by night to still keep a watch on the miser’s home, His first step was to go to Sound Haven, and he did not disguise himself to make this trip. He took the train for the little village, and upon his arrival there put up at the little inn, where he got a substantial dinner and won the confidence of the landlord by praising it. ‘*! came down to look up a family that used to live here by the name of Cromwell,” said Dick to the landlord, ** Did you know them?” **T know young Charlie Cromwelland wanted to find him if 1 could.” , ‘* Ah! you are one of his victims too, are you?” ** Oh, no; but why do you ask that?” ** Well, the truth is Charlie was a good fellow, but got to running with a rich young fellow who tame down here three years ago for the summer, and who had his yacht and horses, ‘*Charlie’s father had a good home, and practice, for he is a physician, and the young man was a college graduate and had just gotten @ place in the little bank here. **'To keep up with the pace of his city friend, Charlie drew on the funds of the bank, and it was found out, **The young man would have gone to prison, but his father paid all back to the bank, though he had to mortgage his house to do it, and ‘Charlie left for the, West, owing any number of bills here, ‘ ‘*But his father paid up every dollar, and now in his old age has to begin life anew, as it were,” : ‘* And where is Charlie now?” “*Out West, I heard, though I am pretty sure ft saw him in New York a few weeks ago. ** You say he does not owe you anything?” ** Not a dollar,” ** His mother is going West soon to look him up, though they say to doso they’ll have to put another mortgage of a thousand upon the house.” | Dick Doom made no reply other than to say ‘that it would be a pity, and then went out in gearch of the home of Doctor Cromwell, ** Yes, it is my duty to tell them the truth,” he muttered, as he stopped at the gate of a cozy home, surrounded by pretty grounds, Doctor Cromwell was in and received his visitor pleasantly, asking how he could serve | him, ** Doctor Cromwell, my call upon you is one of duty, and alsoa painful one, for I have to tell ‘you that which will cause you sorrow,” | ‘Of my poor boy?” said the doctor, sadly. ** Yes, sir, for I learn that Mrs, Cromwell is going West to look him up,” “She is to start as soon as we can make an arrangement to raise the money, sir.” ** Doctor, she must not go, for your son is not ‘West: indeed, sir, your son is dead,” Then did Dick Doom tell the sorrowing father who be was and all that had occurred, except that he had fired the fatal shot that had killed m, The doctor was deeply moved and then said: ‘* Pil tell you, sir, it was Clyde Colton who led amy boy astray. , “They had met at college, and Colton was a rich young fellow and very fast, . ‘“‘He came here for pleasure, yachted, drove’ fast horses and completely ruinel poor Charlie, whom he led into gambling until my son was forced to fly to keep out of prison, | ‘‘He went to Colton in New York, and that man wrote me that he had given him money yo advised him to go West, and Charlie had one so. ‘. ** My wife intended to go and bring him back, forgive all, and see if we could not reform him; but now you tell me he is deat?” ‘He is, sir, and he was buried in Potter’s Field; but I had the chief exhume the body and bury it in a cemetery, for I felt that there were those who some day would claim the remains,” “‘ Heaven bless you for that, sir. | **T shall tell my wife that he is dead, not how he died, or what he was, for that would break her heart. | _ “* And then I shall go after his body and bury it here in our little graveyard, where two gen- erations of our name now rest, “I thank you, sir, from my inmost heart I enn you, and when I hear from you, as you say, | will come after my son’s body and meet you in the te “* Now what a coincidence, that Clyde Colton is the name given me by the chief as the man whose wife drives the snow-white pony to the, dittle dog-cart, ) | “Certainly Clyde Colton ruined the life of . , on ; : ; oat { ‘ '* , - “" ai? o ?. ys ‘ » pas Wy ~~ i 4 ® i .* ‘ i 4” 6 eh CRN ,.., > ; : 7 . my eae, as oe +E « rg an os 7 CA. * Pee = i inte Lah” os a of _—. as. . i os _ a . e © a5 s wp oe Se es . * % .- em ° * s ¢ . Pee, . Mots ee ee ee wae * wm FS Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. poor Charlie Cromwell, and brought sorrow upon the hearts of his parents,” And so musing, Dick Doom was whirled in the train back to the city, CHAPTER XXVI, THE VISIT, ANOTHER night was passed in the old rookery by Dick Doom, and not a sound broke its still- ness; and he was undisturbed until the arrival of tie chief in the morning. He bad looked out of his door in the early morning, half expecting a note to be pinned there, as on the two previous mornings, but there was none. He did not tell the chief of his visit to Doctor Cromwell at Sound Haven, for Dick Doom had a way of keeping things to himself unless there were reasons for divulging them, and in this case he alone knew the secret of the young man’s life, from having discovered his name and address in the Bible given him by kis mother. He was not the one to let those who had loved the young mun feel greater shame in the death of their son than they had known for him while he lived, So when the chief came upon his regular visit, he said that be had simply been reconnoitering, and intended paying two visits that day. ‘Where will you go, Dick?’ asked the chief, ‘*T shall first go and visit the old woman you speak of, sir, and then to see your old pirate.” ‘What good can you discover by those visits?” . ** Well, chief, we came to the conclusion that they were just such persons that the Gold Ghouls were seeking for their victims.” “ec Yes,” “‘T can, by talking with them, find out if any suspicious characters have been around, and if so, we can put a force to watch the house of the one which the Gold Ghouls intend to strike,” ‘* To protect them?” vi Oh, yes, as well as {to get the robbers in a trap.’ “Youd leave nothing undone, I see, Dick. **But now I will return to the city, and will see you to-morrow.” ** Yes, sir, I will look for you at the usual hour, chief.” ‘* Tt is useless to say, I suppose, to be careful.” ‘*T am careful enough, sir, never fear.” When the chief had gone, Dick Doom rigged himself out in a costume that gave him the ap- pearance of a peddler, . He took from among his traps a case of goods, of various things, and then started out upon his way to make his two visits, The first one was to the old woman who bad the name of being too mean to feed her cats and to keep dogs, | He was advised by a neighbor, who saw him going into the grounds, to keep on bis way, as the man said: “That old woman is a boly terror, and she'll make it lively for you, as she dees for every one else who goes near her, “‘Sbe seems to think everybody is after her cape ky | Dick thanked the man, but went on his way into the grounds, © The old negro man and bis wife were off at day’s work somewhere, and the mistres: of the mansion gat in a chair upon the rickety old piazza. She was smoking a pipe, and eyed the detec- tive fiercely as bo camo up. “Well, what do you want here?” she asked, in a hoarse voice, as Vick drew near, He stoppe). raised bis hat politely, and said: ‘7 will tell you just why J bave come, my dear lady, if you wili allow me to do so,” There was something in the tone and look of the young detective that checked the in- tention of the woman to order him off, and she said: * Well, what do you want?” } ‘T am no beggar, and [ do not wish to dis- turb you, good lady: but 1 am here, as you see, to sell goods, app»rently, though that is not why I have come,” ‘* You are a peddler, and they are no good.” ‘“‘T appear to be a traveling salesman, yet I am not, for I am a detective,” ‘* You have no business with me, for I break no laws,” Mr, ‘* Very true; but do you read the papers?” $' Yes,” ; s May tT confide a secret to you?” es, : ; ‘You have read that of late there have been two murders committed for the purposs of rob- bery, one being Sedlev Seaton, the other an old | miser by the name of Peter Mainball?” ee, a > p Ary iA “ -\> “ — 7 : Rt Att ean er rv) ST , | Pe A SORT PF ee Sere Oe : * yp om T. ‘Yes, I read of both murders, and I have © wondered why they did not come here and mur- der me,” ‘* Ah! that is just it, for the men who com- mitted those two murders are leagued together to kill to get gold, and itis just such unprotect- ed ones as you are whom they seek out, ‘Knowing thisI came not only to put you upon your guard, but also to ask youif any sus- picious-looking persons bave been prowling about of Jate that you have noticed?’ The detective made a good impression, and had won the respect and confidence of the’ old woman, for she Said iv reply: ‘*Come and take a seat and I will tell you all I know about what you say.” CHAPTER XXVII. THE OLD HOMESTEAD, Dick Doom went up and took a seat upon the steps of the piazza, while the old woman put her pipe away and said: ‘¢ You bave heard that I am rich?” ‘Yes, it is said so,” ‘* What else?” ‘“‘ That you keep your money hidden here in your home,” “Tt is true.” ‘¢- You do wrong, for there are men about who would not hesitate to kill you, if only to get a few hundreds of dollars,” ’ ‘‘T can believe that, for I know how wicked men are, ‘* But you asked me if there had been any sus- picious persons about of late?” ‘SYegY “There have.” * Ah! ‘¢ Will you tell me of them?” ‘* One man came here four days agoand asked | for food. ‘*¥ refused him, of course, ‘¢ He looked about the place, asked and then, when I got angry with him, “Yog,” ‘‘ Yesterday two others came,” ‘« Did they talk with you?” sé Yes,” ‘* Describe them.” ‘They were in a carriage, with a coachman, and they were a lady and a gentleman,” “They certainly were not suspicious charac- ters?’ “{[ don’t know so much about.that, for the gentleman said the Jady was taken suddenly ill, and he asked if she could rest here a while,” ** And they did?’ uestions, e left,” ‘6 Yes, sir, for she vas young and beautiful, — witb red-gold bair, and reminded me of a daugh- ter I once had, so [ was kind to her,” *“ And the man?” ‘¢ Was a handsome fellow, but if not a villain my eves Jied to me, for they said so.” Well?” “TT might bave thought no wrong, but it struck me that the lady was not very ill, and then I recognized in their coacbman the man who bad been here before as a beggar.” ‘* Indeed! ‘‘ What were the names of the people?” ‘¢ | heard him call her Violet.” — “Ah! 7 .“ Did you notice the horses they drove?” ‘* Yes,” “* Describe them, please, good lady.” “They were dun horses with white manes and tails,” Dick Doom smiled, and the smile meant a great deal; but he quietly asked: ‘“Did you hear the lady call the gentleman by name?” ‘7 thiak she called him Clyde.” **T see, ‘¢ Well, I must be starting’ now upon my way; but Jet me say to you that I believe they were, inspite cf their fine looks, none other than spies, trying to find out all they could about you § | - end your place, and my advice to youistohide | yourself and your gold by night, for they may come here to Eill androb you at any time. . ‘¢ Have you a place you can go atnight?” ‘ ‘Ves, Pit be safe, for they cannot find me where T skall go. ‘Rut i thank von andI wish you to come and see me aggin.” “7 will, an them send word to this address at once,” and Dick Doom handed to the old woman a card, ‘“T}i do it,” was the answer and then the de~ — tective went on his way to the house of the old Sri pirate, as the chief had said the old sailor was % called, ; It was a walk of several miles, but he soon should you have a visit from - made it, and turned into the grounds througha — VM Pore) ve 7; ad » ‘ 7 - ov . % 7 eta! 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