Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 849 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 : tricks, Light the gas, Harry, and we’ll alarm the heusehold.” Happy Harry obeyed, and ,when the gas had been liglited in the rooms and hall, Billy proceeded to call up the sleepers. Miss Merrett was the first one on the spot, all dressed, and if was plain she had been waiting. The next was the darky, and after him the others, in short order, ‘Goodness mercy!” the mistress of the mansion had exclaimed immediately, in ex- citement. ‘* What does all this mean, sir?” She spoke to Broadway Billy. ‘‘Tt means, lady,” Billy answered, ‘‘ that these fellows broke into your house with the intention of robbing you, and I have been able to catch them in the act. It will go rough with them.” ‘‘And serve them right, the wretches! Are you an Officer, sir? Take them, then, and lock them up, and I’ll make it my busi- ness to press the matter. You have my thanks, sir, and I'll see to it that you are properly rewarded.” She asked no further questions, and made it appear that she had never seen Billy be- fore in ner life. Billy had some exchange of remarks with her, while at the same time he was studying the servants and judging of their worth as far as possible, He had no trouble to pick out Kate Kreuger, for the surprise with which she had recognized Tony Vangriff had made it plain who she was, and Tony had given her a quick signal. She took his hint and did not let it be known that she recognized him, She would hardly have done so anyhow, for that would have been to draw suspicion upon herself and possibly it might have led to her arrest as anaccomplice. She kept quiet and apart. Billy explained how the robbers had got in, recommendiag that better fastenings should be put on, and finally took leave with his prisoners. These were taken to the nearest station and turned over to the police, Billy entering cnarges against them, “There,” he remarked to his beagles, on leaving the station, ‘‘we have two the less to buck against, anyhow. There is going to be a hot fight for the tin box, and every one we knock out will count.” Karly the next morning, or as early as he could expect to find it open, Billy called at the office of the deceased lawyer. He found a man in charge, and proceeded. at once to business. ‘*You are in Mr. Doorman’s place, sir?’ he inquired, ‘Yes, sir; 1am carrying on the business,” the civil answer. ‘‘ And your name is—” ‘* Paul Lyddon, sir.” ‘*Mine is William Weston. I have called regarding that will left by Patience Penrose, and especially the legacy she left to Norman Sherwin.” ‘Ah! yes; a curious case that, very. You are a detective, then? Ah, yes, quite right for him to make every effort to find the for- tune, but I am afraid he never will.” ‘* But, it must be in the house,” ‘Undoubtedly it is, sir, somewhere, but ‘who can say where?” ‘Then you do not know?” mk § no, certainly not; it was a secret my uncle held, and it died with him, of course.” ‘‘[ thought maybe he had shared it with ou, in anticipation of anything that might appen to him of asudden. Or, that possi- bly he had left it in writing.” ‘* Not he, sir! I have no doubt but Pa- tiencé Penrose had forbid his trusting any one, and he would not think of betraying a trust, especially with her. Besides, it was no trifling sum,” ‘You are right; the more reason why : Broadway Billy’s $100 ae ee ee ee ee ——_— --— more care should have been taken that it should come into the hands of the legatee.” “The woman thought she had that fixed all right; no one could foresee that both she and my uncle would die on the same day. Had he died first, she could then have in- trusted her secret to another.” ‘* Yes, that’s so; it was fate that upset the plan, of course. ‘Then there was abso- lutely no clue left among your uncle’s pa- ers?” ‘‘ Not the slightest. I became interested in the matter, and looked well, but nothing was to to found,” ‘Have you looked so well that further search would be quite useless?” ‘*{ think Ihave. I’m quite sure I have.”’ ‘Then I can gain nothing here. Was in hope that through you I might get a clue to the hiding -place of the fortune.” ‘*And I am sorry I cannot be of use to you. AsItold Mr. Sherwin, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to place the fortune in his hands, if I could only find it.” ‘‘ Have you searched she house?’ ‘Yes, on two occasions; with him. We were. bafiled completely. That, however, was to be expected, for the woman would never have put such a sum in a place where it would be likely to be discovered by acci- dent.” ‘You are right. I feel that it will be useless for me to make the same search ‘‘More was said, Billy angling skillfully for anything the man might let fall, but noth- wus gained, From there he went to meet Sherwin, and together they proceeded to the Penrose residence. There they first paid their respects to the mistress of the mansion, after which they asked to see the old servant, Betsy Bennet, in private. ‘‘T understand,” said Billy, ‘“‘that you were more like a sister to Miss Penrose than like aservant. It is strange that she did not trust you with the secret hiding-place of her money rather than Mr. Doorman,” This after othér remarks which had led up to it. ‘*Lor’ bless you, no,” the old woman de- clared, ‘‘She thought the world an’ all of Mr. Doorman, an’ there was nobody like him to Patience Penrose.” ‘‘ Then you have no idea where this money is concealed ?” ‘* Not a bit, sir, not the least bit,’’ was the answer. ‘* Have you looked for it?” ‘Yes, 1 won’t deny that, I have looked for it; but, bless you, it ain’t no more to be found ’n a needle lost in a haystack.” ‘‘Was there any particular place about the house which Miss Penrose seemed to take more care of than another? Any place she seemed to have under her especial watch or guarding?” ‘* No, sir, none.” ‘* How about the curved chimney down in the dining-room?” He noted that the old woman gave a slight start, at that, and she looked from him to Sherwin and back again, ‘‘T don’t know what you mean, now,” she declared. Billy did not speak at once, but gave her time to think, the while watching her face to note her emotions, for they were quite plainly revealed. His gaze seemed to confuse her. ‘*Do you t..ink the hiding-place is there?” he demanded. : “Tt might be,” she admitted. ‘*What makes you think it might be? Come, if you are the friend of Mr. Sherwin here, and want to aid him, tell us all you can.” “There is no good reason why I should Dali me ee ee es ee eer ee with him, but I have an engagement to do so fair heiress. to-day.” Had she found the tin box? That was the think it,” she declared, ‘‘ but it was the only i room in which Patience Penrose lived when | she an’ me was alone here together.” ‘‘ Well, there is something in that; I take ' it that she would want to be near her trea- ‘sure as. much as possible. Still, this is no proof that the money is hid in that room. Come, Mr. Sherwin, we may as well look around and satisfy ourselves that we cannot find it,’’ They searched, and well, but in vain, Miss Merrett, Betsy Rennet, and all the servants lent assistance, but it ended as the previous hunt had ended, in failure. Finally they took their leave, and as soon as they were away from the bouse Sherwin asked: ‘Well, what is your opinion of her? Do you think she has found it?” “T hardly know,” answered Billy. ‘There are some reasons why I should sus- pect her, and others why I should not, We have the address of the bank, we'll go there and learn what we can.” So, talking along the way, they went toa bank not far from that neighborhood, where they made inquiry concerning what deposit Patience Penrose had had there, and the amount Ermina Merrett had drawn out. They found the old woman had an account there, not a small sum nor yet a very large one; and they found, too, that Ermina had not drawn a dollar since her aunt’s death! Here, then, was suspicion afresh against the question, CHAPTER VIII. TICKET SCORES A POINT. Wren Normapv Sherwin reached home, and when Broadway Billy entered his office, after their forenoon’s work, each found a caller awaiting bim, The person whom Sherwin found waiting for him in the parlor of his lodging-house, was one to whom introduction is hardly necessary, for when informed of her presence be stepped into the parlor immediately. ‘‘Miss Athorne!” he exchimed. glad to see you, I assure you.” ‘Which I] am pleased to hear you say, Norman,” was the sweet response, as she cordially gave ber hand. The female cashier was taking a day or two off, having sent word to the store that morning that she was sick and could not take her place. ‘Pray take your seat again,” Sherwin urged. ‘This is something unexpected, and for that reason I appreciate {it all the more, But, you have some business with me, I suppose.” ‘* Why do you suppose that?” ‘“‘T know of no other reason why you should call.on me.” ‘‘Well, 1 will admit that I have come on business, then, Norman—if you {will allow me to use your name,” ‘‘Ladies may venture to take liberties which men would not dare to take,” was the ‘‘T am at your service, ‘*T am response to that. Miss Athorne.” ‘You may call me Irene, if you wish,” she gave gracious permission, ‘‘I would not think of taking where J could not give. Anyhow, we have known each otherso long, ou know.” ‘Yes, that is true; and now for our busi- ness.” ‘‘ Anxious to have it done with, I see, Anxious to have me gone?” ‘‘Not so at all; the fact is, you have aroused my curiosity and I am eager to know what is coming.” ‘‘T have come to talk with you about the money your aunt willed to you, and which is now among the things which are not—as it were; that is, if you will hear me and be- — lieve me,” ‘‘T can promise the first readily enough, all i ie ° ase SS - - é, - > x ee" 6 =~ - r e 2 hal » ee ed os ~. ~ % a - ~ . wee «4. #,° a, - <<... . =") . . = ss = ~ ~~ J. Ps ‘ _ - :- = eos nt gn a - a — ' = +S ~. _—~ aes ——. > a . s —__ * ae »» — > a OS OS * ne = ~ - - »~ —_ ry ay pge“3 anes . - - bt ‘ f - ‘ . , , , bd " - 7 * “7 ‘ . 2 . - “ i? 4 43 . @ . 4 re, a ¢ ~ . Ps : * ! rot 7 rg lJ r _ y _ ” 7Y ~ —_ 4 » » eel | 4 & 's ra ; - a ho * rn re . - _—