Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 839: Broadway Billy's Big Boom — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— — hd 4 ’ . 4 i> i ¥i 4 7 wt 4 ’ o “<@ @ . —_— 7é “ We are rk rR en, tls. a Pat TY , a ee aa ty a Broadway Billy’s Big Boom. ~*~ ~ ‘No, it is very strange.” A shadow had come over the face of Mr. | ‘and I don’t know a finer young man in ~ — Hon ) a ee a | ¥ oa a a ‘, =~ 2 ae Sma t. &<- - ay 2 ‘a re a. CS ne Ne * —— ~ - i Ee s s ~~ ‘Well, I have told you, and so freed my mind in that direction. I remembered it was Broadway Billy you said you would employ, and I thought I'd let you know. If he does- n't turn up, of course your case will be in statu quo, as the lawyers put it.” “Yes; and for that reason I'll be anxious to find out about him. Tll see Edward and tell him all about it.” ‘Why not Mr. Prettyman?” “Mr, Bigwell! Why will you persist in teasing me about him?” ‘* Don’t you know the poor fellow’s heart is ready to break, for love of you? Iam afraid you are cruel to him.” “You know you do not think anything of the kind. If he will make a goose of him- self, can I help it? I have told him plainly to forget me, that I can never be anything to him.” ‘Which seems to make him all the more eager, my dear. The fact of the matter is, he has confided in me, and has urged me to speak to youin his favor. That is why I do so, for really I am under some obligation to the fellow; but all the same I cannot but commend your good sense,” ‘Thanks, sir. Well, you may tell him his case is now entirely hopeless, for I am the promised wife of Edward Franklin.” ‘* Ha! that’s the case, is it?” “Yes, sir.” “Then that ought to settle him, I'll tell him, when I go back, and I hope he won’t go and hang himself.” *‘ Little fear of that; he’s too cowardly. If he, has got any sense at all he will take it like a man and never make further men- tion of it. I’m sure I never encouraged him, anyhow.” . Bigwell held some further talk with a mother and daughter, finally taking his eave. He had not been gone a great while when another caller was announced. - ‘This time it was Mr. Job Heron. He was a tall, well-dressed man, wearing a high hat and side-whiskers. His appear- ance suggested a compromise between a law- yer and a parson. “The first time I have been able to call since the funeral, Miss Laurence,’ he said. ‘‘T hope I find you well. I have dropped around ona little matter of business even now. Poor hand at making calls of any other sort, you know.” ‘‘ What is your business, then, Mr. Her- on?” the young lady asked. ‘Regarding the estate. Mr. Burret has called on me, and as he is to come in for it 5 athe he would like to have the papers we hold. I see no reason why they may not be delivered to him, do you? But it shall be just as you say, you know, just as you sa ” ‘‘Is he not making unseemly haste?” ** Just what I told bim; but he says he had arranged to go away, and has had to de- lay to settle things up. He wants to set out for California as soon as possible, and if he can have the papers it will save him some delay about straightening affairs out. But let it be just as Ae say. I told him I would be willing, and I’d mention it to you.” spon oe did he not come to see me him- se 9? “You ask me too much, really. I'll tell you, though, the man is poor anil is not as presentable in appearance as you could wish a caller to be.” ‘*Poverty is no crime; he need not be ashamed of that.” ‘‘ Well, what shall I say to him?” ** You may say that I intend to hold the papers to the very last hour, because I sus- pect that everything is not as right as it ought to be. It is only a matter of ten days _ anyhow, or even less, and I guess he can wait that length of time, with the prospect _ Of a million or soin view. ‘Tell him that.” Heron. “All right; Pll. tell him just what you say,” he promised. ‘‘It is nothing to me, you know. Really, though, I don’t see where there can be anything wrong in the affair. The courts found nothing, any- how.” ‘That is all right, Mr. Heron; but it has never been explained to my satisfaction how poor Zita came to wander from home, and how she came to be in the river in the terri- ble condition in which she was found. Fur- ther, [ am not satisfied that it was her body we buried.” At this the shadow on the man’s face was displaced by a paleness. 7 ‘Tf I had a single doubt, Miss Laurence,” he declared, ‘‘I would spend every dollar I possess in trying to get at the truth; but, I cannot doubt. You recognized the clothing, every piece, and your maid and everybody else recognized the body. Oh, no, [ see no room to doubt. Still; as you say, that does not explain the mystery of it all, and lam afraid it never will be explained. Well, [ll report your decision, and the man will have to abide by it.” ‘Yes; and, if at the expiration of the time nothing new has developed, then he will come into the property as a matter of course.” “Then you think develop?” ‘* It is possible.” | ‘* Why, Miss Laurence, have you discover- ed anything to bear out the suspicion you seem to entertain?” ‘ | ‘*No, I must admit that I have not, sir; still, IT am expecting that something will come to light, if my suspicion is not alto- gether groundless,” ‘‘If everything is not right, I hope it will be plainly shown before the time ex- pires, ou know I would never coun- tenance anything wrong in the matter, Miss Laurence, never.” ‘* Assuredly not, Mr. Heron.” He did not tarry long, but made his ex- cuse for going and went. Half an hour later Vivia Laurence left the house and set forth in the direction of down- town. , The business place of her accepted lover, Edward Franklin, was her destination, and finding him in his office, she laid the a before him in full, requesting his This he promised readily enough. He shared her suspicion, and believed the youn detective had met with foul pey. He woul investigate immediately, and if appearances bore out the suspicion, would put the case into the hands of the chief of police for in- spection, something may CHAPTER VIII. ANOTHER VICTIM. THat day Edward Franklin closed his place of business earlier than usual, and took a Broadway car up-town. Watching the numbers, he finally alighted and entered the building in which the young prince of detectives, Broadway Billy, ha his office. Mounting the stairs, he found the door of the office and tried it, only to discover it locked. Nor was there any notice on the Loam stating the whereabouts of the pro- prietor. He turned tothe office of a lawyer, just across the hall. . Going in, he found there a man past mid- dle age, busy with books and papers, who looked up as he entered. ‘‘T suppose you know the detective who occupies the opposite room?” the invader in- Eeenoges ‘“Do you know where he is to- » of this city, l assure you. I have been wonder- ing where he is, for the office has been closed all day.” ‘* He has two youthful assistants, I believe. Have they not been here to-day, either?” ‘That is what makes me think stranger still of it. They were here a few minutes this morning, but have not been back. Still, it’s nothing, for they are not infrequently absent.” ‘Tf that is the case, why does their ab- sence so impress you this time?” the caller inquired, ‘Before I answer that I want to know something about you.” ‘‘Well, I am interested in a case this detective has in hand, and I have good reason to fear he has met with foul RR ‘* Goodness! I hope not! Tl tell you; I am here all the time, every day, and the young man nearly always confides more or less in me, pene giving me an idea where he is going, 1f expected to be long absent.” ‘‘ Then he does not use the bulletin?” ‘*Thatis another point. They do use that, and there hasn’t been a scratch on it to-day.” “Do you think the suspicion is strong enough to warrant us in in telling the police about their absence? What do you say about it?” ‘* Tf they did not appear to-morrow morn- ing, I certainly expected to do that,” was the reply. ‘‘ From what you say, meyhe you had better do it without delay. would not want to hear of harm coming to that young man,” Franklin took his leave impressed with the importance of notifying the police as soon as possible. He understood the object of the detective in taking the old lawyer into his confidence— that in case of his disappearance at any time the police would have some clue to start with to find him. Now, however, nothing of that kind was to be had, and it was all the more suspicious, In a little time he was at the office of the chief of police. There he made himself known,. stated his business briefly but fully, giving all the points in his possession. ‘ ‘This may be serious, sir,” the chief said. ‘‘T will put a man on the case at once and see what can be learned. The suspicion you | entertain may not be groundless, and [ll in- | vestigate.” And so it was that the police, too, were directed upon the same trail which had roved so disastrous to Happy Harry and ilent Seth. 2 When he left Headquarters, Mr. Franklin’s intention was to call upon his promised wife, to inform her regarding the result of his in- quiries, and he set forth in the direction of her home. | | He had not gofe far, however, when he ng accosted by a freckled lad who demand- ed: 6 ‘‘ Say, boss, be you Mister Franklin?” “That's my name,” was the answer, ses in “Then here’s a writin’ for ye,” andthelad = thrust a note in his hand. Franklin read it quickly, for it was very brief and to the point, and turning to the bearer, demanded: ‘‘Where did you get this, my boy?” ‘‘Lady in carriage p'inted you out and said hand it to ye,” was the ready explana- tion | ‘‘Down that way, sir,” pointing. ed, so she scribbled this and sent me after ye nn the jump. See?” “4 es, “That so? Which way did the carriage se ‘3 tried to make you hear, but you never look- —— A \ ~ * see, but I don’t understand it. To don’t see why she didn’t wait formeto jon y . . . ' ‘ — ‘Yes, I know him, sir,” was the response, | her, even if she did have to send yeu to — Be we Wyre r ' i. f » > - id “ = * a 4% " 7 | ’ — -« é ‘ » *. - “od vil “ :. yen a $ bE ae ¢. ot . att oF ee - Ta — ' Bat fF : P Sd * + 4. . = > = . > , ? : rs, aa Sinn! Sem ' ? Sad “ : o * a . Me r f. - a . fod sr? ’ 7 . | | al \ . IX = Ll wy ae # N |_| a | (Po oe - ri ' i >