Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 819 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

wf Tae ib: 2 : ) ~ young girl?’ empha pA N'Y “Doom, de The bewildered chief could not answer the than did the young detective, and he at last turned and said:” ** Well, Dick, of courseI would have taken your story of the affair, yet lam glad to have had the testimony of Mr, Dawson,” ‘‘It is better, sir, and will you kindly instruct that wooden-headed sergeant to use a little more discretion in charging people with murder?” In response the chief rung the bell and sent for Sergeant O’Hara, ‘“*[ wish to say, Sergeant O’Hara, that this ' young gentleman no more killed that man than you did, and in future remember that it is not for a police officer to make charges against any one until he is before the proper person to hear them,” The sergeant bowed and departed, but his looks showed that he was angry with Dick Doom not being the assassin so that his suspicion against him would have been correct, ‘** Now, Dick, what do you say about follow- ing up this casé against the Gold Ghouls, for for you have very quickly discovered thatit is a fatal trail,” **T have, sir, and [ am doubly determined, now, to see the end of it,” ** You are not one to back down, I know that well enough.” **No, sir; nor am I one to give up a case until I know all there is in it, * Now [ know that I did not kill that man, and his dying confession to me, and his revol- ver, prove that he was the avenger of the Gold ‘Ghouls,” ‘* That is true, Dick.” ‘‘And more—so quickly to be on my track, proves that your office is watched for any one who may be suspected of being upon the track of this mystery attending the ley Seaton murder.” ** Yes; that undoubtedly is the fact.” ** But, stranger still, he man called me by name!” ** Do you recall the man’s face?” ** 1 have seen it before, sir; I recognized that ‘eves when I saw it in the light of the hall out- side, “T1] have it brought here so you can get a better and undisturbed look at the face and the person,” | ‘*[ would like to have ths view, sir.” . The body was brought in, and the sergean reported finding ninety dollars, a watch and chain, both valuable, and a knife, in searching the remains, : Dick Doom took up the knife, and, looking carefully at it, said aloud: 3 ***GoLp GHOUL, EXECUTIONER,’ ‘* Chief, this bowie-knife bears the same in- scription engraven upon the man’s revolver.” _“ Well, there is now no doubt as to the man being & member of that mysterious band of murderers, doubtless their appointed executioner or assassin, Do you recognize his face?” “Strange, sir, but I cannot recall when or where I have seen his face, yet I have met him, Lam sure, and under circumstances I know that were out of the common. | ‘Now, chief, as Mr, Dawson said that shot, the first on», and which killed this man, came, as well as he could make it out, from the steps, ‘or area of the house opposite to which the tragedy occurred, would it not be well to send there at once and find out who lives there, for I cannot unde: stand that young girl appearing so quickly, and though after midnight, all dressed as she was,” | ** Tl send at once, Dick, and I am glad for the suggestion, for there may be more in that than piyeers upon the surface,” detective was at once dispatched to the house, with instructions to say that the chief of _ police wished to tell the ladies not to be alarmed, and to find out who lived there, as he desired to -ask the young lady if she had discovere : thing of a suspicious nature going on before the _ shots were fired, By | In jast fifteen minutes the detective returned _ with the startling information that no one lived _ at the house in question, and it had not been spay ear for several months. _ _ And yet that young girl Suslagiger s appeared in the doorway of that house and een ere wasa i Oe light in the hall and in the parlor windows, deepens. Who is that ‘Chief, this pitta at cally demanded Dick Question, while the further question burst from be PRD eapee ! ; : F : ~ Fey Ch i a yer wi - ‘ " ‘ a Rae Phy PE JN, eye mer tla 7 - , = 1% ‘oF Aad ‘ ‘sn. &* F 4 Yul ~ | ’ qe PN, Me: - sf Bi % nt i 4 3 ‘\ P ae ey r ait ae AP ei Soe < ————_—_——__::..D..... SS Ss ee. Te ¥ ws5, | ¢ : i. Ast “mant™ Os sige that young cand be curt first fl 7 ") ad sears ys igab A ae iy Os ei ee —s —— — ' ° " ~~ err oe 56.4 we mee “— --r ~ : Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. CHAPTER III. A FRUITLESS SEARCH, Dick Doom heard the report of the man, sent to see who dwelt in the house, where he bad seen the young girl appear, with incredulity. He could not beheve that there was no ono there, that the bouse had not been rented for some time, But he said nothing before the detective as to what he thought, and only to the chief when the man had left the inner office. ‘* That man is reliable, chief?” he asked, ‘* Perfectly so.” “He has made a mistake then in the house, sir, ** That could not be, Dick,” ‘Why so, sir?” ‘*The house, as I remember it, is peculiarly situated, for on one corner of the block, run- ning back to it, isa piano manufactory, and up- on the other corner, also extending back to its wallsis a large machine-shop, the house bein the enly one facing the street or that block, an between the rears of the two buildings named,” ** Indeed |! ; ‘Then there can be no mistake, sir.” ‘¢ None.” , **T will go there and make asearch myself.” ** And I will accompany you, Dick, for I am becoming most deeply interested in this decided- ly mysterious case,” The chief arose and two dark lanterns were secured, while Dick Doom said; ‘* Never mind any keys, chief, for I have a bunch here that will unlock every door.”- The two then put on their great-coats and started out into the darkness and storm. The streets were wholly deserted now, for the storm still continued, and the wind facing them drove the sleet into their faces, while Dick said: ‘**T had my face bent low to avoid the stinging sleet, so did not see the man until he was close upon me, ‘* Tt was by the light from the windows of that house that I then caw his attempt to kill me-— yes, chief, this is the house,” The two halted before the door of a high stoop house, four stories in height, and built, as the chief had said, between two buildings running back from either corner to it, | | . The house was closed now and all dark, from basement to attic. ‘* This is the house I referred to, Dick. ‘But see, it is unoccupied, for there is the notice stuck on the window,” ‘*Yet the lights came from those windows sir, and the young girl appearedin that door- way. ‘** If other than you said so, Dick, I would not | believe it.” “* My dear chief, Pf ag officers saw the girl and heard what she said.” | ‘Then let us enter.” Nick Doom stepped into the little yard, which had an iror fence in front of it, and went down under the high stoop, ‘Suppose I go in alone, sir, while you re- main in hiding here to stop any one who may come out,” ‘*T had better go back and get some of my men, Dick,” ‘* No, chief, we can do better alone,” “It is risky business, you know,”- ‘* Very true, sir, but then I am armed,” **] do not believe that Detective Hendrick did go into the house, now I see the situation,” said the chief, ‘‘T am sure that he did not, sir,” and as Dick lower door, and, after a few trials with differ- ent keys, found one that unlocked it, The chief stepped into the area and said: ‘*] can command both doors here.” — Then Dick Doom entered the lower hall and closed the door behind him, ' He opened the bull’s eye slide of his dark lantern and flashed it before him, holding it off at arm’s length, for he knew ashot would be aimed near the lantern, if any one was in hiding and meant to fire, believing that he was just be- hind it, But there was no one in the hall, and a search of the dining-room on his rigbt revealed that it was unoccupied, eS a he went into the kitchen, and it too held noone, — | He saw that the rear doors were pa locked on the inside, so that no one had passe out that way. | , He then ascended from the basement to the tfloor, é . is ¥ t A - ge? “ > ~ & . u* P f] ¢ » ' a | ; 1 wa - ithe L is? . ; : , - ws “* r aa + 7 ‘ {2 “ 45 ‘ ’ ny > Ye [* q » yee , 4 ed «A i hy ° ‘ , ; - = . , ~~ BT. je * rae] ae e ‘ he Lge indus Cider AP ait" it me , ~ Fie Pe ADA Ay SPY pe Nokia Pear RCs ARR Pe ped go, Al es Doom spoke be puta key into the lock of the There was a parlor in front, a rear room and | a : ¢ > 44% hall room, but nota piece of furniture was in any one of them, and not a soul was visible, As he started up-stairs to the second floor his . eyes fell upon something whi e u,cn the floor, He quickly picked it up and discovered a de- licate handkerchief, sweetly scented with violet perfume, , In one corner were two initials: } cs Vv. Vo ** Ah!” said Dick Doom aloud, and he put the handkerchief in his pocket and continued the search, Up to the very attic he went, and when at last he reappeared at the basement door the chief said: . ‘*T was growing anxious about you, Dick. ‘But the search was utterly fruitless of re- sults, eh?” ‘*l found no one, sir, and there is not a piece of furniture in the whole house. ‘¢ All was dark, damp and dismal there,” ** And that young gir]?” | ‘* She appeared in the doorway, sir, as I have stated,” was the quiet response of Dick Doom. CHAPTER IV. THE WARNING, Dick Doom parted with the chief a few squares from the deserted house, each going to. their respective homes, _ It was just two o'clock when Dick Dcom en- tered the hotel where he was stopping, a quiet lace on Highteenth street, and was given his ey by the night clerk, who addressed him as: “Mr, Richards.” It was by the names of ‘' D, Richards and © Mrs, D, Richards” that Dick Doom had regis- — tered at the hotel, for he never cared to have any one know him, except the chief and the few men he was most intimately associated with, as Dick Doom, He had been gone up to bis room perhaps half an hour when a messenger called with an impor- tant note for D, Ricbards, He was sent at once up to the room of the de- tective, and a knock on Number One Hundred | was answered by a cheery response to enter, © showing tbat the inmate had not retired. : When Dick Doom bad reached his rooms, for he had a parlor and two bedrooms adjoining, he laid aside his storm coat and hat, drew on his — slippers and dressing-gown, and sat down in front of the glowing fire, | He took from his pocket then the bandker- chief he bad picked up in the deserted house, © and began to examine it closely, | ‘‘ A dainty thing it is, and recently dropped there, for the perfume is fresh upon it, | “ Then, too, these are strange initials—V, V.— | and prettily embroidered, | ‘* Yes, it is the property of some one of means, and in the higher walks of life. | _ “Now, what was the owner of this handker- | chief doing in that deserted house, at midnight, — and where did she go to disappear so quicklyand _ so suddenly? | i ‘‘The chief doubts her being there, and will _ question his officers in the morning to see if I ** So be it, for Iam id oak to drop all refer- — ence to ber, for that will help mein my work, _ ‘* But I must find the owner of this handker- — chiel, for either she, or some one with her whom | Caw — see, killed that executioner of the Gold — ouls, | Wiad ey “To-morrow, too, I must learn the whole | story of this Sedley Seaton murder by a band of ee for I got little information to- n 4 . : " ; So was Dick Doom musing when the knock came upon his door, WY 4 He quickly thrust the handkerchief out of sight, and bade the visitor come in, The messenger entered, all muffled up 80 as to — be completely hidden, except bis bright eyes, _ ‘* Be you Mr, Richards?” he asked, — says Y ‘* This is for D, Richards,” ee avon sy.) ‘‘T answer to that name,” MAA ae bbb: ** Well I was given a two dollar note to bring | you thisand deliver toyouonly.” = —=§ §. ‘Thank you,” and as the boy handed over the » Hehe he was turning to go when Dick Doom i “Wait a moment please, for there may be an > ‘‘Warm yourself there by the fire” = ‘*] hain’t cold, and there hain’t no answer,” — ‘* How do you know OY ae ‘She told me 80.” | Ot “Ab! it wassent byalady then! 7 Yes, and you bet she’s a | te.” teh abe oe 7 ‘ ‘ a , , i pte Mate | Dal ce > 7 oN , » - >, ' a , n in “ hae 4 Gq ‘7 | y AP | pe, es y Po aa re ; u ty ae ti 4 ; fi ae a f(t Bey + © tel a : Fy ‘ bere _ 4 sae o wert