Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 819 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

——— 7 > ' 2 ; —————— LL S'S het Had he been called ia to fathom a case he could not find a way to solve? , It had foiled all others; every detective who had sought to penetrate the mystery had lost his life, or had been wounded. It was a fatal trail for any man to follow, and when no longer members of the Secret Service League of New York dared seek to shadow the slayers of half a, dozen lives, he, Dick Doom, had been sent for by the chief of police, and asked if he dared make the attempt. Promptly bad he accepted the task, and yet be left the chiefs office at aioss to know which way to turn or what to do, e beld a warning in his hand which read: “Let any man attempt to run down the murderer of Sedley Seaton and he is doomed to death. ‘Remember those who have made the attempt, and be warned by their fate. ‘* Tae GOLD GHOULS.” In the face of this letter the chief of the Secret Service had failed to find any man of his force ~ who would seek to solve the mysterious murder of Sedley Seaton, and the certain death that had overtaken the detectives who had started upon the search, But, Dick Doom had said: “1 will undertake the work, chief, and I will bring the murderers to justice.” Ten minutes after he had uttered these words he went forth into the street just at the bour of midnight, pondering in his mind the strange story he had heard, and witb the determination to hunt down the Gold Ghouls or lose his own life in the attempt. Dick Doom was a mystery-character bimself, one whom no man knew, not even the chiefs of the Secret Service Bureaus who employed him, What his life bad been, if any wan knew, no one had been found to tell the story. His slender, graceful form, handsome face, with its perfect features, and dreamy, dark eyes Jed many to vow that he wasa woman io dis- guise, Yet he possessed the strength of a giant, was quick as a cat in his movements, could endure any hardship, would face any danger, was a dead shot an ‘a dangerous one to arouse, Foiled at all points to trail down the perpetra- _ tors of a most mysterious murder and heavy what robbery, the New York chief of police had ‘ye for Dick Doom and asked him if he would upon what the detectives had all begun toca i “*The Fatal Trail,” Dick Doom had said at once that he would, and when the chief told him to first hear all that he had to face, he replied: ‘© T will take the work, sir, be it what it may.” ‘‘ Remember, your life is at stake once you un- dertake it.” ‘*{ live with my life at stake, sir.” | ‘Those fiends, calling price a the Gold Ghouls, have spies even in my office, I verily be- lieve, Dick Doom, for they know at once every man who has undertaken this work, and he bas fallen under their merciless vengeance within three days after he has set out upon what really has become a Fata! Trail.” ** So be it, chief.” ‘* They may be on the watch for you phen you leave my office to-night, so suppose [ have you sbadowed as a protection on your way?” — Dick Doom laughed at this, and replied: ‘“No, chief, I thank you, I know too well shadowing a man is, and I do not care to be shadowed through life, even for protection.” And with this Dick Doom had left Headquar- ters, drawn his heavy coat about him, for it was -_ = ne a severe and stormy night, and had started up the dark and oh ie street, for the first time worried at the case P laced in kis hands, not from fear of death, but from a dread that, with no clue to start on, his task would be a very difficult one, He bad sot gone a square when he saw some one approaching, - Susvecting no danger then, to himself, he sud- denly started back at a quick movement of the man, while at the eame time there came a flash and oar report, followed instantly by a second _ glare of ight, and a shot, ed Dick Doom, but in oe instant he bad drawn a revolver and stood at There was no need for he flash of two weapons for a moment blind-- nie to protect himself 1 = ) shot, but by whom I do not know, in the open’ door he raised his hat Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. Dia nen er en ee ee ee a “Don’t lie to one you have murdered, for I saw you fire the shot. h! where is my gun, for if I had it even “ Yes, sir, the man that fly young gent killed awhile ago,’ ** See Sl sergeant, you may have to prove now I would kill you!” and the stricken man | your charge. or lose your fat berth, so do not felt about on the pavement for his revolver, to | be too fresh,” and Dick Doom’s eyes flashed as carry out his threat, he faced the sergeant, who shrunk back at his Quickly Dick Doom stooped and picked up the | glance, while the chief ‘said sternly: weapon, which in falling had struck his foot, while he said: ** 7, not you, Sergeant O’Hara, will attend to this matter, sir,’ and he led the way into bis *“My dear fellow, upon my honor I did not | office, followed by Dick Doom and the stranger, fire on you, though I did see two flashes, and beard two reports, within a few feet of ‘each other, ‘* Who, and what are you? seek my life?” asked Dick Doom impressively, while in a low voice the answer came from the dyi ing rand: ‘Read the answer on my revolver why I there !” As tre dying man uttered these strange words, referring the detective to his revolver as an an- swer to the question of why he had sought his life, there was heard the sound of running feet, and a squad of police officers came up ata double- quick, just as the door of the house before which the scene had occurred opened and in the light anxious! y: ** Ob, sir, tell me what has happened?” CHAPTER II A RED MYSTERY, Bice Doom was astounded, the former saying in a low tone: ‘‘T am not known, sir, so do not speak my name, This man is a perfect stranger to me, And why did you | also.” The chief nodded and then said: ‘* Now, sir, what is this trouble that has costa human life?” ‘‘ T have but little to tell, sir, for I was met by | sought. your life, Dick Doom; it is engraven | a man whostarted to fire upon me, when be was | shot by some one unknown, and certainly within | a few feet of him, ‘*T saw two flashes, heard two reports, and a | man fell at my feet, his revolver striking me on the foot, ‘The sergeant hag his revolver and mine. ‘¢ May I ask you to get them at once, sir?” The chief rung a bell, gave an order and | of the hall stood a young girl who asked turned to the stranger, ** Now, sir, your story.” “T live just_ opposite to where the tragedy occurred, sir. My name is Alex Dawson, and I am a lawyer. I had been to the home of a client, to write his will, as be is very sick, and was on my stoop feeling for my night- -key, when I saw the man who is now dead sbrink before bis face a murder had occurred, | back into the shadow of a tree, and throw out ht and ws 3 had notseen the murderer, nor could he | his hand, account for it, Had the man fired both shots? ‘*There was a light in the windows of the house in front of which he stood, so that I saw Had one of them been an accident and entered | his action distinctly. the body of the would-be assassin of himself? ‘‘ Before he could fire, a flash, followed by 4 He could not then answer the question, and so | report, came from the other side of him, from turned to the officers as they came up and said: ‘*Men, a man bas been shot bere and he is dead—yes, heis dead,” he added, bending over the motionless form, under the steps of the house, by the door leading into the basement, and the man fell, firing in the air convulsively as he did so, ‘*T entered my own house to prevent my wife ‘‘He drew a revolver to kill me, for he ad- | becoming alarmed; then, crossing the street, I mitted as much, but before he could fire he was | discovered that your sergeant suspected this must bave accidentally shot himself.” * You'll have to go with us, for that. story don’t clear you,” said the sergeant, ** Certainly, I will return with you, sergeant,” and turning to the young girl who still..-stood out: | ‘‘A man has been most mysteriously shot, miss, in front of your door; but the officers are ik and you had better retire into the ouse,” and called | brought in he weapons I think he young gentleman of tho murder. . hat is all I can tell you, sir.” “Thank you, Mr, Dawson, You can return to your home, sir, and if I need further testi- mony, I will send for you,” said the chief, The Jawyer retired, and an cfficer having from Dick Doom, and the one used by the intended assassin, the chief said: ‘‘No bullet is missing from your revolvers, “No, sir; I was fired upon, as stated, and oa door, wags at once closed as ne girl said | when I asked the ¢ ying man why he bad wished ; y* rt thank you, sir,” ‘Come, sergeant, this young man did not | Doom, fire the shot that killed the one lying here, as” his revolver will show, if he has one,” said a man who had just come across'the street, ‘What do you know about it?” asked the ser- geant suspiciously, to kill me he distinctly spoke these words: ‘++ Read the answer on my revolver, Dick why I sought your life, for it is engraven there,’” The chief quickly examined the revolver and an exclamation of amazement broke from his lips as he cried: ‘See here, Dick Doom, what isengraven upon “ Perhaps more than any one else, now that | the revolver with which that man sought your | man is dead, for I was feeling in my pocket for my night-key, having just come home, when I saw that man, the dead one, halt und throw out his hand toward this one. ‘** As be did so a shot was fired from the area life— ‘ ¢THEe Gotp GHOULS’ EXECUTIONER!’ © ‘Yes, their assassin is already upon your track,” ‘and the chief of the Secret Service of this very house—from the steps it seemed to Bureau was deeply impressed with © a the me—and as that man fell he fired at the gentle- | revo)ver had revealed. man i have in charge, but conyulsively, with out effect, ‘*T went iato my house to tell my wife not to be alarmed, and as I crossed the street I heard young man 4 the shooting,” ‘7 do; and I must know more of you, too,” said the sergeant, and he added to his men: © Bring him along too!” he slightest t was offered by | to Toteke any chances. eh Not the 4 st resistance. y y seiodintel y upon leaving the — either Dick Doom or the stranger who had come to his rescue, and the officers started for | Headquarters, a block away, with their two | going to fathom the OS of the Sedley Seaton Yi hae} Dee a eee cxmivedin thie cite mommawer™ Bg ye aan eclty, rd. it be | Headquarters, a prisoners and the y body. As they reached We xdinariers, the chief was Bs just leaving his office and called ont: “Ho, my young friend, what does this mean, your being under arrest?” from the man who had started to fire upon him,| ‘ Yo a sergeant has made 4 mistake, chief and had fired as he was few oe =f “ih toot that is’ and Idid not care to make myself i i, ‘ley the rem of one writhing in b, while | know _ from bis lips came the words: oat ats sir, and in the presence of | by | pena ou, Dick Doom. You were too quick | hina sees ’and Dick Doom pointed to the for your gun; you have killed me! i} Cort } za ‘T killed you, man?’ "Why I never even drew |. rtainly, Sergeant, I will be res anetble my weapon until you fell, pore (3 yates +. ome two Sara sia a fu body , Utteramazement, | ten LS Leet at Ga aro = a Ns Oa Tite ay b Xe i ; , ; Sut hs f\ rey Mes brine 3 RES ce eer ac! an Rae a SRR deta te ha aes ib wf My y rier yee: eb nies 0B thea: 4 | . ~ CHAPTER ITI, WAS SHE GUILTY. Dick Doom’s face did not change color at tre | your wor ds, which imply that you suspect this etry i of the chief, that the assassin was al- ready upon his track, He had him, pad who intended to rob him, and did not care Tbat be had been singled out as a detective is mind he chief’s summons, and how co believed that the man who bad met. : and who sought bis life, bad been a foot- — niga that he had e ‘oymt in the work of hunt- — ing down the Gold Ghouls? et, there was attempted, and the dying man’ one words | that his revolver would ex intended assassination, Thea lay > the fhe tayolver:: sl Soe upon the desk, a witness o the trath of thecon- =.) fession of me one whose sic A b vier seemed far tragic beginning of the ser pocereted over the the f | fe had been he fact that his li fold bins ce reasonofthe | | oe were then forever: ie) Kies of “ Doon AS ‘. * “—,