Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 841 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Messenger Max. the r nsibility is terrible, and I do not know where to begin.’ ‘¢ You are to begin here,” said the judge. ‘‘I am to furnish you with the means you may re- quire from time to time, and you are to keep me informed of what you are doing. When the task is completed, and you have carried out the wishes of Mr, Mordaunt, I have a letter for you, written at his dictation, which you are to read, but until then it must remain in my safe. ‘*Go home now, and think over your plans, and come to me again to-morrow atnine o’clock, propane to commence operations. You havea ard task before you, one in which success is very doubtful,” CHAPTER VI. TAKEN PRISONER, PROMPTLY at nine o’clock on the mornin following, Maxwell Merry presented himself a the office of Judge Ourtis, ready to begin his duties as detective, He had talked the matter over thos with his mother, and although she feared the dangers into which her boy must g° in the new business he was to undertake, she, ike him, saw the necessity of it. ‘¢ You are forced to be a detective in spite of yourself, my son,” she said, ‘‘and you must be a goed one, Mr. Mordaunt has left behind him a duty for you to fulfill, and you must doit well. Never forget your Mother, and her teachings, Let me know where you are as often as youcan, and, on the other hand, if it should happen that you cannot keep me fully informed, I will en- deavor to look always apes the bright side.” She was a grand, good mother, stout of heart for everything concerning her loved son, who was all the world to her, and who was growing up so manly, so hopeful, so honest, upright and courageous. The temptations into which he wouid of necessity be thrown, she did not fear, for she knew that they would flit by as they came, leaving him unharmed, ‘‘ Good-morning, Maxwell,” said the judge, ween boy entered his office; ‘‘ prompt again, see. ‘“Yos, sir, and ready to begin my work. I have been to the office and resigned my position there, and wish to commence my duties here without delay.” ‘*Good, my boy—good! I begin to think that perhaps Mr. Mordaunt did not make a mistake after all, I will give you the few instructions I have for you, and after that you must direct your own energies.” ‘eV es, Sits" ‘‘In the first place,” continued the good old judge, ‘‘ you are to consider me as your prin- cipal; come to me when you want money, and report progress to me as often as you have any- thing to report, or as often as convenient, ‘¢f will not disguise from you the fact that the regular police are working upon the case, as it is their duty to do, and I will tell you their theory of it, as it may assist you in starting out, ‘‘Thank you, sir.” ‘It is the theory of the police,” said Judge Curtis, slowly, ‘‘ that the burglars and the mur- derer are the same, They believe that whenthe robbery was committed, something of import- ance was left behind, or, something tending to betray their identity was dropped; that one of them returned for it, whatever it was, and that Mr, Mordaunt surprised him, and then followed the shooting. ‘¢ That is all I know of their modus operandi ; what do you think of it?” ‘‘ Very little,” replied Max, promptly, ‘‘al- though when I think of my inexperience and their constant association with crime, I am al- most afraid to sayso, However, Ido not be- lieve that the robbers know vet that Mr. Mor- -daunt has been killed, unless they saw it in the papers. You must remember that I was with them when the robbery was committed, and that I saw and studied every move that was made by them, and 1 am convinced, not only that they took everything they wanted, but that they left nothing behind of their own, which would be calculated to betray their iden- * What, then, is your theory of the murder? ‘‘T have none yet, but may lask youa few questions?” ‘* Certainly.” ‘‘Who is the executor of Mr. Mordaunt’s will?” ‘* T am sole executor.” ‘¢ Have you looked over his effects, yet?” ‘‘ Very little—some.” ‘* His letters?” ‘¢ A few of his business letters, yes.” --a-? _ ete —— ~ vn atk. Rae PY we) Lyd Db SOT tebe". etd fo git.’ eC wees) mii LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL ‘¢ Any of his private corr ndence?”’ ‘‘No. I had not intended to; I thought I would burn them.” ‘* Tf you will forgive me for the impertinence, sir, I think that would be very foolish.” ‘* Why so, Maxwell?” ** Because, sir, it is ar paren nay, almost prob- able, that you would find something there which would give us a clew to work upon. There are three causes which might have led to the killing.” ‘What are they?” ‘‘ The first, and most improbable one, isthat it was done by an ordinary sneak-thief, who en- tered the house in Mr. Mordaunt’s absence, and, wns een by him, fired the fatal shot.” ell? ‘The second, and more probable one, is that gome person other than either of the robbers of the previous night knew that Mr. Mordaunt had a large amount of money in the house, and watching until an ore offered, had en- tered, been surprised, and fired the shot.” *¢ And the third?” ‘‘The third is very much the same as the sec- ond, with the difference that I have rather come to the conclusion that it was done by some one known poneeany to Mr. Mordaunt, and if that is so, there may have been some writing in his possession which would help us, There are two reasons for my thinking as Ido. One is that Mr. Mordaunt has directed me to hunt for the burglars, without mentioning the murderer, and the other is, that I cannot help thinking that he did not describe the man who shot him as well as he might have done, had he cared to be more explicit. ‘ There is something in what you say, surely.” ‘* You are aware,” continued Max, ‘* that his nephew was used as a decoy the night I was sent to lead him into the trap?’ ¢é Yes.” **Do you know that nephew?” te No, ’ ‘* Have you ever seen him?” ** No—never.” “Did Mr. Mordaunt remember him in his will?” | “é Yes,’ ‘*To what extent?” ‘Ten thousand dollars,” hesitatingly replied the judge, ‘‘ but it was trusteed so that he can only have it in installments.” ‘*Ah! How much property did Mr. Mor- daunt leave?” ‘* A very large amount.” ‘¢ Much more than he gave his nephew?” ‘‘ Twenty times as much,” ‘ ‘* Had he other relatives?” ** No—none.” . ‘‘Then it follows naturally that he and his nephew were not on g terms, does it not?” ‘ Yes, I think it does.” ‘‘You do not know the nephew, and have never seen him, you say. Do you know any- thing concerning him or his whereabouts?” ‘s Very little. I know that levis wild and dis- solute, ple and is generally anything but a promising young man. His uncle has many times got him out of scrapes, paid his debts for him, etc.,and never got much thanks for it, either.” ‘¢ How old is he?” ‘¢ Between twenty-oneand twenty-five ; I don’t know exactly ” ‘¢ Ts his name Mordaunt?” ‘¢ No—his name is Graff. He was the son of Mr, Mordaunt’s deceased sister,” : ‘¢Ts his father living?” ‘‘- Yes, but worse than dead, for he is in an Insane Asylum, hopelessly mad.” ‘¢ What is the son’s first name?” ‘¢ Kilian, like his father's,” ‘Kilian Graff,” mused Max; ‘‘a peculiar name, and one easy to remember, Now, sir,” he continued, ‘* will you do me a favor?” ‘¢Tf I can.” ‘¢Go this evening to the house of Mr. Mor- daunt and look over his private papers as thor- oughly as youcan, Lay aside forme any you find which you think may possibly be of inter- estin this matter. In the mean time I will look around méa little for a theory to work upon, and to-morrow morning [ will come here again. If, during the day, you can use your influence with the District Telegraph Company for them to allow me without question to wear their uni- form when I see fit, I should be very glad. There may be times when it will come in very handy, and I shall wear it only at such times.” As Max was leaving the office, the judge handed him a roll of bills. ‘*Here is one hundred dollars,” he said.’ ‘*Spend whatever is necessary, without stint, 8 er aa but none foolishly. When that is gone, or near- ly so, ask for more, and at the same time hand me a statement of your expenditures. Your salary will be paid to your mother each month, for you are to pay your own expenses entire, with the money I give you.” In a moment more, Max was in the street, Where to go first? what first to do? how to be- gin? It is easy enough to become a detective in theory, but when forced into actual practice the thing is not so simple—at least so thought Max as he stood hesitatingly upon the corner o Montague street, not knowing which way to turn first. But as the most-looked-for events never hap- pen, so are the least-expected ones likely to oc- cur, and it transpired that, as he stood there meditating, a voice behind him startled him, so that he turned like lightning, not to see who had spoken, but who had been addressed. ‘* Hello, Graff,” the voice said; ‘‘ I hear you have come into a fortune,” and as Max turned he saw two young men shaking hands about ten feet distant from where he was standing. ‘* He might better have kept it,” replied the one called Graff, ungraciously,‘‘ for all the good. it willdome. Which way are you going?’ ‘¢ Over the bridge.” “1 1l go with you.” They started away down Fulton street, and. behind them went Max, satisfied that he was following Kilian Graff, the nephew, whom he could not help suspecting of complicity in one or both of the crimes against Mr. Mordaunt. ‘¢T'm in luck, anyhow,” thought Max, as he entered a bridge car behind them, ‘‘for I will keep along with this fellow until 1 find out his haunts or where he lives, and then when I want him again, Ill know where to look for him,” 4 . Once in a billiard-room, he got close enough to hear part of what they were saying, and they had evidently just resumed the subject referred to on their meeting, ‘*How much did he leave you; old chap?” asked the stranger of Graff. ‘* Righty-three dollars and thirty-three cents per month for tenyears. Munificent, wasn’t it, eh?” with a sneer, ‘‘ Better than nothing, though.” ‘‘Bah! I’d as soon have nothing.” ‘‘ What became of the balance of his shek- els?” ‘‘ Judge Curtis got a little; my cld man’s bills are paid as long ashe lives, with areversion to the Asylum when he dies, and the balance goes to a detective.” “To what?” ‘¢ A detective, named Merry; somebody who is to spend the remainder of his life in hunting down— That’smy game. Pay up and let’s get out.” R Out they went, and Max behind them, but al- ‘though he passed through the door not more than a minute behind them, they had disappear- ed entirely from view. While he stood there, glancing hurriedly up. and down oe lel street, a colored boy came: rapidly up to him, NTs thes name Merry?” he asked breath- lessly. ‘Yes, why?” ‘‘ Jedge Curtis wants ye right away.” ‘Where is he?” ‘‘Up-stairs on de block below. He saw ye go in hyer, an’axed me ter come 10 Ye, see?’ re yer ter speak ter ye quick on important. biz, see “¢ All right,” said Max, quickly, ‘‘ Show me the way and I will go to him, I can 100K for the nephew another time,” he thought, 28 he hurried along after the darky. On the block below they entered &@ narrow doorway and began mounting a flight of very steep stairs, At the top was a door with a wicket, at which his conductor rapped sharply. The wicket moved—an eye appeared and dis- appeared—the door opened, and they entered, But where? Max looked around him Im gur- prise at the costly elegance of the apartment, and was just about to speak when @ door at the further end of theroom opened, and through itit came the figure of Kilian Graff. Max uttered a cry of surprise, and sprung toward the door by which he had entered, only to find a brawny negro opposing his pas- sage. f Rasy, my boy, easy,” exclaimed Graff cool- ly; **you have been following me all the morn- ing, so I thought ’'dlet you findme, When we partcompany, you willknow me better, I think, Just march into that room [ came out of, in double-quick time,” and he pointed a revolver’ at the boy’s head by way of argument, ; | IOOKSTEO