Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 821 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

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Dick,’ he _— greeted ‘“Dropped in to hear the news, I s’pose, hey “Yes, thought Id see if that young de- | tective has got back yet.”’ | ‘‘Ha, ha, ha! Yes, he got back in haste before I closed up for the night, and the horse was about winded.” **You don't say! What was the matter? ee the ghost?’ ‘That was just it, he seen the ghost.” ‘‘ Where is he now?” ‘Back in New York. He took the last — train. Said he had had enough of this sort of thing: Ha, ha, ha!” | “Well, that beats all. I thought he had | more grit than that. It must be that his great reputation has been built up on wind, | I cuess.”’ ‘Yes, I guess so, too There is no sand in him, that is a sure thing, or he would | mever have scared off so easy. But, he is done, and Haswick is no nearer to being | found than before.” ‘** And it’s too bad, too. Not that I liked the man, for I didn’t, but all the same I[' would like to have the myStery solved and have it made known what became of him that night. But, the way it looks now, I am afraid it will never be cleared up.”' “Soaml. Dave was a fine fellow, Dick, and [ understand why you didn’t like him. You are a man, though, and if the girl loved him and didn’t love you, take it like a man and say nothing ou couldn't, both have her, that’s sure. With him out of the way, | though, you may stand a show. Don't ye | gee?” The young man paled at the mention, ‘It places me in a bad position, Price- ley,’ he responded. ‘‘I can’t do anything till the mystery is cleared Away, you know. And if it isn't cleared, I should have to*wait along time for the wound to heal in the girl’s heart. Ifthe fellow has been killed, wish it could be proved, and so set the Matterat rest. I think there would be a _ chance for me, then, in time,” ‘* Well, go ahead and prove it, then.” “Te wish I gould!’ ‘‘S’pose I put a-flea in your ear, how will that suit you?” : % ‘I'm open to any suggestion you may see fit to make, Priceley. If you can help me I'll not forget the kindness.”’ 9”? | ‘ * ¢ > : * ad id A eh A 4 : x ~ . . - « - bar and speaking in lower tone, ‘‘I would — say do this. You go over to Granton and have a talk with Gretna, and tell her you will heip if she will allow it.” ; ‘She wouldn't object to that.” * But, ‘tell her the condition,” “What would that be?” *That after awhile, she your attentions again.’ : -** Provided we didn't find Haswick alive, , ¢h? If 1 found him alive, and fetched him back, that would cook my goose, ” cr “It might not, Dick.” ~**T don't see how it could work wise.’ | ] , ‘Why, it would be a generous act on | > “y ‘ 4 * se @ would receive : other - inthe game.” = Do you think,so?" eee tees OR. UO”; +e “*T believe I wili try it, then ”, | © You cant do better, and if it comes out _ that Dave bas done anything wrong, then | Not that [| % a8 ~ fe q™ - = ; , “ « ¢ | spoil my chances. | ‘don’t give me away, will you?” Ing.» your part, and might be your winning card | Broadway Billy’s Bluff | ee me eee | believe anything of the sort of Dave, you understand. ” , “Til do it) Get me out a rig and I'll go at once I won't wait to go home for my own horse — “ That's the talk. If Dave is dead, then I | hope youll win ‘IT may stand a chance, if that~ fellow Lycurgus. don't come into the field again ” ‘ There will be no show for him. Ok l man Granton would put the veto to that | move, quick, you bet!” ‘And that is the very thing that might Woman is a contrary being, you know, and hates opposition.” ‘* Yes, that’s so.’ ‘Granton favored my suit, you.know, and urged Gretna tomarry me, but she was de termined to give herself to Haswick ‘*It would be a good thing to put up a job on Lyecurgus.” ‘ How could that be done?” ‘ Why,a woman could be found who, for good pay. would come out here from the city and claim to be his wife. and raise a nice scandal. See?’ “What aeplotter you are, Priceley! I wouldn't have believed it was in you, on my word. That would be a big joke, wouldn't |it? But it would have to be done with care.” ‘*Of course. : ’ ‘For, if the woman was caught, she might give me away, and then there would be the mischief to pay.” ‘“‘It would have to be timed so that she could come when he was not at home, and he couldn't face her in the lie. It would kill his prospects here dead as a rock.”’ Pll think \. ‘You are right, you are right! about that, and maybe I'll act onit But ‘“Naw; what do you take me for?” ‘All right,” The landlord ordered out the rig, and in a few minutes Dick Bardner was spinning along on the road to Granton His thoughts were busy along the way, and the time passed so quickly that he was at the Granton Graveyard before he knew it. And as he descended the hill he mused, half aloud. | “ This Granton ghost is a mystery, truly I never believed in ghosts, but a fellow has to believe what he sees with his own eyes; no getting around it I am in no hurry to see it again, either I’m no coward, but it gave me a creepy sensation that I can feel ret. - He looked at the old vault, and at the great old tree that overshadowed it, in pass- ‘It may be that a murder has been done here sometime, he further mused, ** and this ghost is the spirit of the victim) Who can | tell? But the strange light and the many ‘* Well, then, see here,” leaning over the , voices of the air—how are these to be ac counted: for? Pshaw! it is nonsense for me , to try to guess the mystery. Let him solve it who will, | don’t want to do it; I am jin that line.’ ; . The cemetery was passed, yet he glanced back at it again as if half-expecting the ghostly form to appear — And as he looked, the ruins on the other side and to the rear of the cemetery caught his eye : ~‘** And there, too, is another mystery ” he said to himself. ‘‘Who and what is the Mad Chemist, as they cali him? It matters little, I suppose. That he is mad is not to be doubted, for only a madman would dream of making gold out of iron, and that is what he is trying to do, they say. I wish he would succeed, if,he would then go away and take Lycurgus with him; no harm to him in sucha wish as that, ’msure. Ha, ha, hat!’ Shee vem A little later he rode into Granton. It was a neat and lively village for its size, and as he passed between the two great mills not Ya ) on ihe banks of the creek, the spacious grounds of Granton Manor broke upon his sight Around these the village clustered as if for support, and indeed their dependency was there,«sice the Grantons owned the mills and the mills were the life of the Place’ The open roadway into the grounds was just ahead, and into that Bardner turned and dismounted =~ A man from the stable ran to take his horse, and the door was opened by Mrs. Granton in a most hospitable manner, she having seen his approach, ‘IT am most pleased to see you,” she greeted, ‘ Asam I, to find you looking so well, Mrs. Granton Is Gretna at? home?” ‘ Yes, she is at home, Richard. I will tell her you wish to see her; I am sure she will be plensed,”’ ‘‘She may not be pleased,’ Bardner re- marked, ‘*T understand you, Dick,” Mrs. Granton rejoined. ‘‘ But, she knows her father’s wishes, and it is her business to be pleased.” It was said firmly but not unkindly, They had entered the spacious hallway, and now the lady led the way into the parlor. . There they talked for a few minutes, when, excusing herself, Mrs. Granton went out to find her eldest daughter and inform her of the caller. In a little while Gretna entered the room. Bardner rose to greet her, and she offered her hand in a friendly way. : ‘‘T have called to see you upon a matter — of special import, special to me at any rate,” the young man said, after the exchange of greetings. A pained look came upon the face of the irl, ‘‘T hope you are not going to bring up the forbidden subject, Mr. Bardner, and least of all at a time like this,” she spoke. ‘* No, only in a secondary way,” she was assured, ‘‘ I have come to offer my help in the search for Mr. Haswick, if you will ac- cept such poor help as I can give.’ ‘That is good of you, but, I thought were doing all you could,” “] have not been straining myself any, — Gretna. You can understand that I have no — reason to love David Haswick. ’ ‘* Nor have you rcason to hate him, Dick,’ ‘‘T suppose not. But, ii is just here’ | will do all in my power to solve the mystery __ and find him, upon one simple condition,” _ “ And what is that?” | * [tis this. That if we find him dead, or find that he has disgraced himself and you, that you will, in due time, receive my at- tentions with the view to marriage, ill you agree to that?” ‘ “Yes, I will agree to that, Dick—I do agree to it.” pe ay hairy “Then he shall be found!” CHAPTER X ‘ THE ENGLISH “AGENT \ BARDNER Offered his hand, and the young woman accepted it. There was a moment of silence, and © Gretna was the one to break it, with the s f question — Bye s% * But, what if David is found alive and You will the a 2. = >> , eh) a tal) eo ¥ t * - ” v4 * * ~ -_~ uae _ 7 Th mo as & * s, _ os «lh =, . a sy » Fort . - ? Gel +. * you 7. >. *. ee Ss « ae s-*. © € a well, and not in disgrace? ~ withdraw and leave us tordur love?” Seo 3 ‘de will,’ was the prompt answer “I 9 | will prove to you that lamaman of honor, . | — Gretna, and that 1 am in some degree . ~~ worthy of your respect and confidence,” “ T thank you.” area s) ‘But, what of Mr Lycurgus? ‘| know nothing about him, D care to know)! ut Se is ae GR ie “Then, should we jearn the worst abo David, you will not allow him to take th place of rival tome? aia ‘“T will not. But, all this me, at this yng we | d a * Wie ick, nor do I 4 ‘« 2 “> @. “~, ia ‘ - . wt << . . Td | ¢ -} i Az . Dbaiie LS . : . é . See i e \ Fa : is painful to» © not love you, a8 you 4