Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 819 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

be 2 : "e < ’ 3 > ate a § . | 1 b Sanat, rat ve , oo ee € ¥ un, _/ Ab? MEN ob ft 77 ke —,’ tae * ‘its® “ ~ . ‘ op ' ete ~ Je Niel n “abs, «? -, r +, aa 3: y b > . fu > q . ; , 7 ay ¢ ba : ts Jour of bs \ e ; ? - . Xe , Pn ae ee im : iy . . i, a xy fod? . a e ¥ Le a : aes 7 4 i. ow eS i ; ‘*They would say that you hid the treasure, that it was not stolen, and that you—”’ **] see, sir, and I thank you; but being inno- cent lam wholly unwiiling to hide the robbery of the booty.” ‘‘ But I say no,” ‘* Well, I wish you to remain in this matter, as yuu desire, and free to do this work. ** With the charge against you that you have the loat booty, you would be hampered in your work, perhaps even put under arrest.” ‘*T see your idea, sir.” ‘So make your written report to me of the af- fair, and I will band it in to the coroner, stating that [ do not wish you known in this matter. ‘Sign it as Richard Dickson, and at once de- part from here, and return to-night, if you will, for 1 will give the coroner to understand that I will keep a man on duty bere.” ** T see, sir,” ‘t Say that seeing the men with the booty you _ demanded their surrender, and when you did so they opened fired upon you, ‘* You returned the fire, killing one man, and they fled, you remaining on the scene until or- dered away by me, ‘* Now go down-stairs and write your testi- mony, as I have directed, and then go your way, calling in to see me this afternoon at my office,” **T will be guided by you, sir, in this matter, for I see just the position in which I can be placed.” Going down to the room which he had made his quarters, Dick Doom made out his statement as the chief had directed him to do, and then took his departure. Hardly had he gotten out of his gate when the coroner and jury arrived accompanied by officers of the Sectet Service whom the chief bad sent or. The field was worked carefully over, and the statement of “ Richard Dickson,” accepting the word of the chief that he was a man in whom he had implicit confidence, and that he would not jet him appear personally as bis usefulness in tracking the robbers would be lost, but promis- ing, if there was need to do so, he would produce bim in good time, . The coroner and his jury could find only that the dead man, attempting to rob the premises of the late miser Peter Mainhall, and being one implicated in his murder some nights before, had met his death at the hands of Richard Dickson, an officer of the law on duty there, and who had foiled the attempt at robbery, Recommending that officers of the law be kept in the dead miser’s home the jury departed, and the body of the dead burglar was sent to the Potter’s Field for burial, with name unknown, Of course the affair created a stir, and the miser’s mansion became more than ever a place to be avoided and of deeper interest, and people were constantly seep passing by it, looking with morbid curiosity at the house with such a fatal and weird record, The afternoon papers came out in an attack upon the utter inefficiency of the Police De part- ment, pitched into the Secret Service Bureau as being incompetent, and asked when and where the ** murder epidemic” would end, During the afternoon Dick Doom, still in dis- guise, dropped in to see the chief, He found him looking over the evening papers, and in spite of his knowing that he was doing his duty, he wore a troubled look, : ‘These paper's are very bitter toward us all, a ’ Dick, but yet what more can we do?” ‘‘Rome was not built in a day, chief, and it will take tine to ferret out this Gold Ghoul work of deviltry, yet we'll do it.” ‘* Anything new?” **T shall return at dark to the miser’s mansion,” ** Not alone this time, I hope.” “Ob, yes, sir,” ** You know that there must be some one in that house,” _. “ Yes, it woule seem so, for they saw me put that bag in the strong-box.” ‘* And yet you persist in going alone?” “Yes, sir, for I work better alone, and to- night I shall search that old rookery from cellar to attic,” was the determined reply of Dick Doom, } __ CHAPTER XVIIL ON WATCH, ‘‘ Dick,” said the chief after a pause. yan SY GR, SiN.” You say that the woman w those robbers?” ee ae Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. ct Yes,” ** You are sure that it was she?” ‘““I recognized the same rich voice of the woman whom I saw in the doorway of the deserted house, sir, and it was the same one who called upon me at the hotel in the dis- guise of a messenzer-boy.” ‘* Well, you area close observer and should know. ‘‘And you think she again saved you?” ** T am sure of it.” ** She fired at your lantern?” ‘** Yes, sir, and to save the man with her, whom she believed I intended to kiJl.” ** And she was right?” Yes, [ intended to bring him down, sir.” ‘* Tt was the mysterious Mascot who called the men off?” ‘¢ Yes, sir.” ‘* Believing that there “were officers in the house ?@” ‘* No, she knew there were none,” ** How so?” : ‘** Why had they not come to my aid if there?” ‘* True,” ‘The men did not consider this, but my Mas- cot did, and she gave the alarm,” “To save you?” ‘‘ For nothing else that I can see, sir.” ‘* What strange motive has she for thus pro- tecting you, thus shadowing you?” that is just what I am going to find out, sir. ‘Tf you live,” ‘* Yes, if I live,” was the cool rejoinder. _ Now tell me what that woman was doing in a scene of burglary in that old mansion?” the chief said thoughtfully. AS y vanity, sir, suggests that she knew I was there, or suspected I might be, and so went there to protect me, which she did,” and Dick Doom laughed. ‘** Tt may be, ‘** Well, 1 will be up early in the morning to see you, and [I sincerely hope if you have to do any killing to-night you will get the leader of the Gold Ghouls—if the man you did kill was not be,” ** No, be was not the leader, sir, for he went with the woman,” ‘* How many in all were there?” _ “T should gay five, or seven, counting the dead man and the woman,” ‘*No one recognized the dead man, for my face expert was there.” **T wish to say, chief, that those Gold Ghouls appear to me to be of a better class than the or- dinary burglars, sir.” ‘‘That has struck me also, Dick,” was the chief’s answer, and he added: “Try and capture your Mascot if you can.” ‘*Oh no, sir,” | ‘Why not?” : ‘If I do | lessen my chances of escaping from death, and [ know, if a prisoner, she is not one : betray the band she evidently is a member of, ‘*} guess you are right,” the chief answered thoughtfully. “Yes, you are right, as you always are, Dick. ‘** Work out your salvation in your own way,” and the young detective took bis Jeave, He ate dinner at a restaurant down-town, and managed bis time soas toreach the miser’s ho just at dark, ' _ The chief had given him the key, so he slipped in quietly, put more coal ou the fire, lighted his lamp, and proceeded, to make a survey of the premises before it got any later, He began with the cellar and wes an hour in the damp and gloomy underground place, But he made no discovery. Then he took the basemeyt floor and this re- sulted without any discovery. The first floor above followed, and there on the dining-room floor was-the stain of blood from the tragedy the night before, The library was examined, and every panel in the wall was tried to see if it too held a secret, But no other panel moved at his touch, and the secret one he closed, Then be went to the floor above, and the re- sult was the same—a fruitless search. The attic was the last, In it were son) boxos, a group of old, dilapi- dated furniture <1d nothing more, Then tho thought flashed upon Dick Doom that the one who had robbed him of the treasure might be some person in hiding the night before, and not one of the Gold Ghoul band, If so, the Gold Ghouls might again return, as 9 So back to the library he went and determined to go on guard on that floor of the old house, ; Descending to his room he took some blankets — and a pillow, and camped out in a niche of the hall above, bisdark lantern lit, and by his side, yet giving out no ray of light. Tired with the loss of rest the night before he sunk to sleep, and when he awoke it was with a start, for a voice was calling his name, CHAPTER XIX. THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER. THE chief arose earlier than was his wont, for he was was anxious about his young friend Dick Doom, He called for his carriage and was driven ye a out to the miser’s mansion. he sun was just rising as he dismounted at the gate and hastened up tothe rookery. He saw that the door was closed and was a white paper pinned. It was an envelope, sealed and addressed, in a feminine hand to “Dick Doom, , ** Detective.” A string was tied to it, and so across the door, that when the young detective came out he would have to pall the letter down and thus not fail to see it, The chief knocked at the door but got no response, | e became alarmed and going around to the tree near the house, mounted the ladder and got ae the dining-room window, which was raised, He passed out into the hall, and there, in the little space near the stairway, beheld Dick Doom quietly sleeping. With several nights’ loss of rest the young de- tective kad been utterly worn out and was fast asleep, 4s upon it p | 0, Dick Doom!” vi In an instant Dick Doom was upon bis feet © and his revolver in hand, ‘* Ah, chief it is you? ** Yes, Dick,” ‘ on you caught me, asleep on my post of uty? ‘*T do not wonder, as'you have bad no rest the past week,” _“*T explored tbis old shanty from ceilar.to at- tic, and went on watch here at midnight.” ‘* With what result?” ‘*T have not wakened since I lay down.” ‘You found nothing suspicious about the house?” ‘* Not a thing.” ‘*The ghosts have not disturbed you?” ‘They might have carried me off, the way I slept,” said Dick, laughing. * Well, they have been aout.” ‘The ghosts?” ‘No, the Ghouls, [ guess,” ‘Here is a letter I found pinned upon your door down-stairs,” ‘ sé Ah \”? mL Dick took the letter and gathering up his blankets the two descended to the rooms be- low, where it was warm, 4 Tne fire was freshened up, and then Dick sat down and opened the letter he had received in such a mysterious manner, 4 ts A ~ He broke the seal, for it had one, and on it | was stamped the letter V. _ ma Then he read it aloud, and it was as follows: “Dick Doom, Detec/ive :— ‘**Srr:—I have given you warnings, andIThaveen- deavored to save you from death, yet you heed not | the one and appear to fear not the other, lies ‘This persistence On yourpart can butendinone way—vour death. ‘ * You aro tracking men determined and desperate, and who are also as surely on your track as you are | on theirs, — ‘They know what your powers are as 4 ferret, 57 and fearing you they seek to kill you. oe Fe ‘De cermined to have gold, cust what it ‘may to ee. get it in life, they seek to put you outofthe way “They did pot know that you were at the miser’s — . mansion last night, so came for their booty, eae “They do know that you are there now, have ; taken up your quarters there, and to-morrow night they will strike. ee, “Be warned, and donot remainlonger, “ *“Tseek to save you for a motive I will not ex- plain; but you make the task a difficult one, asyou are a hard one to shadow, and you will not heed my = warnings. ' mare, “Tf you do not heed this time youarelost,. = * Be warned ce or death is certain. — ri our | “Well, chief, what do a ‘ “s U i think of that?” K&S «. sir.” en @ | no notice of the booty had been made in the | asked Dick Doom when he bad read the letter aA aes rx. scot?” rest papers, and they would suppose that he had | through, his face revealing not a shadow of anx Xi ici promotes kept it there, | iety at what hadbeen writtenhim, i bee ay ie yf yyy rane Bit *@ tec aoe ik al oe a , heh» ed an Leny vad ‘tio a)" Bi) Pay ana UN ean Pat Sade Ranaaaihin eg RRET Re eR? gt ee nie Est ots. d” AGS SOON ce aye alee a ES 0 Sea ae) Ce tee eae ; ee. COM “ib IC ik | Gt @ = cae TEST MT ESS TOOT oer Cc OMICK rie) 10 KS.C ay “a . ‘ , Ny > pak Sher" dP. A BS et .