Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 819 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

gate tied securely with a rope, und upon which was the notice: “WARNING! ‘*Beware of the dogs! ‘No one allowed to enter these grounds for any reason whatever! ‘All doing so will be prosecuted to the full penalty of the law.”’ But the formidable notice did not keep Dick Doom out, he seeming toshow fear neither of the dogs or the law. He boldly entered the grounds, followed the old weed-grown driveway which led amid the trees to the mansion, Once the place had been a fine old homestead, ‘surrounded by many hundreds of acres, but the growing city encroached upon it until now the house was surrounded only by the grounds about the residence, These grounds ran down to the waters of the East River ata point where it was very wide, and in the little haven there was lying at anchor a small sloop, The land had become overgrown with under- brush, weeds and grass, allin keeping with the old tumble-down mansion which was fast going to decay. ? Here and there all around the grounds were seen the signs of warning put u tree and fence, and on posts where the landing was, thus giving fair notice to intruders of the danger in trespassing. But Dick Doom serenely held on his way up to the mansion, apparently caring nothing for she perils he might have to encounter, CHAPTER XXVIII. THE DISCOVERY. ‘rE old pirate and his dogs too must all be asleep,” said Dick Doom to himself as he ~ neared the old mansion and saw no signs of either, He spoke of tho old seaman as the neighbors did, for he was generally known as the ‘ Old Pirate.” Approaching the house Dick Doom went around to the side that fronted on the water, which was where the old sailor made his home, Of course he expected to see half a dozen dogs ruso at him savagely, and yet, unlike most men, the detective had no fear of them, Whether it was magnetism, fearlessness, or what, he did not attempt to explain it even to himself, but certain it was he always had con- trol over 4umb. beasts from his first meeting with them, He bad faced the most sav dogs before had them rush at bim, and a word would control en for they would trot along sviffing at his els, | . if they would not be thus controlled, then he had his revolver, and his aim was sure, never missing. | y Around the house he went, and there he saw lying, scattered about, three large eee But they remained perfectly quiet, if they saw im, Certainly they all could not be asleep, He advanced nearer and then halted, Tao dog nearest to him was dead, . Yes, there was no doubt of that, for the dog had ® oullet wound in his head, Quickly went Dick Doom to the other two Na, dogs, and they had shared the same fate as the ; ti ** Tam too tata,” muttered the detective, and he walked toevard the house, _ The door was closed, but unlocked, and open- ing it he entered the living room of the old sailor which was on the ground floor, It was kitchen, dining-room and sleeping itp apartment combined, and instead of a bed the man alwayssilept in a hammock, swung from window to window, He was in the hammock then. But Dick Doom did not call, for he knew that was useless, | There was a small red upon the floor be- neath the bammock which told the story. , The detective at once laid his band upon the pulse, ser found it stilled forever. ‘But this was the work of dénly a few hours ago. ~ __ “ They were here last night, and they are the ‘hi I thought of their method too late to save $8 man. “* Now to see ifthey have robbed him, or that they have found his treasnra” 365 here was little search needed, for the bricks the large fireplace and be- ee eee thecr Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. The shape revealed the fact that a box had been buried there and removed. The box in fact lay in the room, the lid torn off, showing that its contents had been taken cut and transferred to something else, doubtless bags brougbt along for the purpose, Dick Doom went over the whole place with the greatest of care, and then searched outside ae he followed the tracks to the water’s ge. | “They came in a boat last night,” he mut- tered, Among the tracks was one that attracted his attention, It had a high, small heel and the foot was small and shapely, yet a man’s track. Having made all the search he cared to then, Dick Doom closed the door and left the place as he had come. Reaching the gate his eyes suddenly fell upon wheel-tracks outside, The tracks. were small, not made by wagon- wheels, and the boofprints revealed two well- shod horses, . Here, too, was the same high-heeled foot- ban which Dick Doom had noticed at the land- ng near the old sailor’s house, faking a few measurements of the tracks, and studying the style of the horseshoe, Dick Doom then walked rapidly away, and he took the road that would lead him back to the home of the old woman. ‘‘T have come to repeat my warning to you, for one who lives as you do was murdered for his money last night. 8 of this to no one, forI have not re- ported it, only be on your guard, though I dread no attack on you to-night. ‘*T will, however, if you will a them a room, send a couple of officers here to stay with you, coming after dark, and remaining all night,” he said to the old woman, who responded with feeling in her voice and manrer: ‘*'You are very good to me,” ** Now I wish to observe the wheel-tracks of the visitors you had two days 4 He went out and looked at the tracks of the carriage-wheels, and the hoofprints, after which he walked rapidly on bis way back to town and just at nightfall reached the office of the chief of the Secret Service, CHAPTER XXIX, HEARING THE NEWS, ) Tux chief was surprised to see Dick Doom en- ter, for excepting the disguise of a very loud checked suit and blonde wig, he had not made up much, wishing to appear only as a peddler, ‘* Well, Dick, glad to see you, and I feel sure that you bave news by your coming bere.” ‘*T have, chief.” ‘* Been disturbed in your lonesome retreat?” “ce Oh, no,” ‘* What then?” ‘ ‘*T have been visiting to-day.” ** Ab, and who did you cal] on?” **The old woman and the Old Pirate,” **T see; and found them at home?” ** Yes, sir.” ‘** But did not like your reception?” ‘*Oh, yes, the old lady was really very socia- ble, and we gct to be such good friends that 1 am going to ask you to send two officers there at once to remain all nigbt. ‘* Tat them leave just at daylight, and remain there at night, going just after dark and leaving early, ur til further orders,” The chief called his attendant, and gave the necessary orders, The two men were off on their duty within five minutes, and then the chief returned again to Dick and asked: ‘t Was the Old Pirate sociable also?” ‘** No, sir, he did not speak to me,” ** But bis dogs made up for his want of hospi- tality?” ‘The dogs did not notice me, sir. ' “In fact, chief, I was a day too late in my of the plans of the Gold Ghouls to save the old man,” The chief. leaped to his feet with a cry of amazement and alarm commingled, ae Dead ? , ‘* Yes, sir, and robbed,” ‘* You discovered this to-day?” ~ “*I did so,” ay i me hear all tha you have | .. tell, Dick,” e chief seem atly worried. Dick Doom told bis story of his visit to the old woman, and what she bad said about the tramp’s visiting her, and afterward appearing as coach- man Of a fine carriage, The illness of the lady and all that followed, Dick Doom told distinctly, after which he made - a ae ’ ’ Ae + : ‘ 5 ; A i- * aA, ‘ - fe SSF SHER IS LY aed ee OT a OM IR * = + age + PO teh Gers ests seen } i Men ‘ . : , Ltt u * 13 known his visit to the old sailor and the discoyv-- ery that awaited him there, ‘* What do you think of all this, Dick?’ asked the chief when he bad beard all. ** Well, chief, | connect the visit of the tramp- to the old woman with the murder of the old. sailor.” ‘* How so?” ‘* Ho was a spy.” “* But you say he was a coachman?” ‘‘ Yes, he was then drivirg his chief over the scene,” ** You think so?” ‘* i know so,” ** And the chief?” “* Well, sir, the chief has a small foot, wears high heels, and his tracks were very plainly seen about the old woman’s house. “Then they appear again, as do the carriage tracks and hoofprints of his horses, at the gate leading into the old sailor’s grounds, ‘* The gate is securely fastened, but the track» were there about it, and the carriage halted. there and turned just at that point,” ‘¢'You read signs well, Dick.” ‘It is my business, sir, to do so, ‘*‘T also saw the same small tracks at the landing near the old sailor’s house, and leading, to his house.” | ** A woman’s footprints?’ ‘No, sir, a man’s, but he has a very small and. shapely foot, ‘‘ Here isa kid glove I picked up tooat the om sailor's, and I believe I can find the match to ti. ' j ‘Then you have a clue,” . “YT have a clue, and if it is a correct one, sir, I will give you a very great surprise.” ‘ But, what is the clue, Dick ‘‘T never make a charge, or bint of a suspiciom against a man until I am sure, sir,’ ** Well, when will you be sure?” ‘*T think within the next twenty-four hours, ‘* But now will you send men up to the old sailor’s, for there he lies dead, and no one would. even go there believing bim to be alive.” “*T will go myself, ** Will you accompany me?” ‘No, sir, for I have a little work to do and. spans return to my quarters at the miser’s man- sion. ‘* You know best, Dick, and I will be up in the morniog.” Dick Doom now took his departure, while the chief got a band of his men together and drove at once to the house of the old sailor, whose death could only be laid at the hands of the Gold. Ghouls, he was sure, CHAPTER XXX, A MIDNIGHT VISITOR, WHkEN be left the chief's quarters Dick Doom. went at once to the flat which be had engaged as Doctor Richard Dickson, | He went into bis rooms without being seen, and half an hour after there came out what ap peared to be a perfect type of an English coach- man, livery and all, This individual made his way for some blocks until he came to an alley which he turned into, watching the numbers as be went along by the dim light of the gas lamps, At length he stopped at the door of a hand some stable and rung the bell, It was answered by a man, who after some conversation with the vistor, asked him in, ‘*T have got to send off the groom I have, for he drinks, and that the master will not allow soif you are a good hand and bring good references, lll take ee say within a weck,” ‘* All right, sir, 1’ll be glad of it, for 1am not. ‘‘ How many horses do you keep?” “There are four now, for the master has a pair, and beauties they are, the lady has a pony and then there is a coupe horse for general at at ““T’ll show them to you.” The applicant for the place of groom would be delighted to see them, he said, for he loved horses, and sothe coachman led him into the stable and sbowed him with considerable pride the horses and vehicles he bad under his care, Soon after the visitor took his leave, prom- ising to call again in afew days for his answer, and to bring his references with him, From the stable he went to the nearest Elevat- out and made bis way e dead to the upper part of the city, where slong iS the oe eee ed Railroad station and was whirled rapidly —