Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 853 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

oS * - ' * ey gong 4 i ae . oe 4 a _- ;~2 7 +. A ie * = ~« “7 — i a ‘ ew 3 5 ig -* * - - , as » 4 te r oe . Bi ee, «pt SS Sang © 4a GPE * re © ses cet Sr) . é elf peep eattlbanpntastenennesdethipeemeeungeeountoheteeemnsmenenaemmetndioncnenenaevaesusyecatnstasiasdioimes *“‘T hope. this time there will be no mis- take.” ‘*T trust not, sir, but the very means to secure safety, in having the double lock and combination in your safe; is what thwarts me in opening it,” said the locksmith. ‘“Well, do your best, and name yonr price,” hastily said the lawyer. The locksmith set to- work, opened his sachel, took out his keys and tools, while the lawyer sat in his chair eagerly watching and waiting. Minutes passed away, all the keys had been tried, all the picks and tools, and the lock remained unopened, The sweat stood in: beads on the lock- smith’s face, and the lawyer was white with suspense and dread, At last the man almost groaned: ‘“[ must give it up, sir, for it is beyond all my knowledge and skill to open your safe,” and the locksmith showed that he was deeply humiliated at his failure. ‘Will you permit me to try, sir?” It was the young assistant who spoke, and the locksmith said sternly: | , aie you try to do what. I have failed n ”? 4 ‘* Yes, sir, for I believe I can open it,” You?” ct¥ en, aix:” The locksmith laughed in a derisive way, but the lawyer’s attention had been now attracted to the youth, and he gazed fixedly at him. He had hardly more than noticed his ex- istence before. He saw a youth with slender, athletic form, clad in humble attire and wearing a Jeather apron, His face was, however, one to command at- tention the moment one glanced into it, for the eyes were large, dreamy and expressive, and every feature was faultless, so much so that it gave him a look almost womanly. But there was that in it to command ad- miration, and encourage confidence, and Lawyer Beall said: | “‘ Let the young fellow try, man, for if he can do it so much the better for both of ou. »» “‘Go ahead, boy, but it’s coming to strange times when the children teach their betters.” ‘‘Bah! this is an age of progression, lock- smith, and I have learned much from fools,” said Lawyer Beall. The. young man smiled and asked: “May I try, sir?” .» ‘Yes, and if you open that safe, boy, I’ll take you in as my partner in the business,” and the locksmith pointed to the safe, into ‘Sea the youth had quickly thrust a ey. _. Lawyer Beall regarded the youth with interest, for there was something in the look f self-confidence that encouraged him to ave faith in him. The locksmith regarded him with a smile of superior knowledge and decision com- mingled, and both had their eyes upon him awaiting the trial, The young man drew the key out of the lock, examined it closely, and then took up a piece of strong wire. e bent the end of it with the pinchers, and taking another piece bent one end also, but only about half the size of the first, He then put in one piece and followed it with the other, giving both a steady turn with the pinchers. ; ' To the surprise of the locksmith they caught the bolt on the inside and it turned slowly. ‘ Now, sir, will you kindly give me the Pe -. combination, and I’can open the safe.” “You certainly have turned the bolt,” © Yes, sir. ia eagerly said the lawyer. r ”? “Then place a finger upon numbers three _ and five of what appear to be bolt heads in —s) <) nad) Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. -_ 2 ee ee we the door, press them, and draw hard upon your false key.” The youth did so and the safe door opened slowly. The lawyer gave an exclamation of de- light, while the locksmith uttered a cry of surprise, followed by the words: ‘* Boy, you have done it.” ‘* Yes, sir,” was the modest response. ‘‘T watched your work carefully and be- lieved that a double key would catch the bolt.” ‘* Just what my key was, a double one— but great God! all of the papers of the Lake View Hall estate have been stolen, for the drawer marked ‘ Granger’ is empty. ‘Mrs. Granger kidnapped last night and the papers stolen—this is a conspiracy that must be unearthed, cost what it will.” CHAPTER IV, THE RECOGNITION, LAWYER BEALL seemed ver by the discovery that the had been stolen from his safe. The robbery had evidently been hastily done, for there was a money drawer which the robbers had not taken the time to open, and the other papers in the safe had remained untouched. Only the ‘‘Granger drawer” had been opened, and on his bunch of keys was the key toit as well as to the safe, while the thief had in some way discovered the com- bination and used it to advantage, ‘Ts the loss a heavy one, sir?” asked the much moved ranger papers locksmith consolingly. ‘In money, no; in other than money it is invaluable; but let me pay you for your services, my man. ‘Pay the boy, sir, for he did the work.” ‘* And I will take no pay, sir, for I enter- ed this business to learn, and opening the safe has been a valuable lesson to me,” said the youth. ‘‘Surely, my lad, you will accept this,” and the lawyer held forth a ten-dollar bill. ‘“ Not a cent, thank you, sir; but let me suggest that you have a new lock put on at once,” ‘‘ Ah, well thought of. ‘* Will you do it?” ‘*No, sir, but the locksmith here will.” ‘Well, my man, go to work at once, for I wish to lock the safe to-night of course.” The locksmith looked at the lock, talked in alow tone to his apprentice, even asking his advice, and the two left the office to- ether, leaving the lawyer pacing up and own the room ina very perturbed state of mind, : ‘This is a very startling discovery for me to make, and I must report it at once to the, chief of the Secret Service, for all the papers pertaining to the trial of that young cul- prit, Loyd Granger and his accomplices, with the confession of the woman, Charlotte Hull, are gone. ‘‘This was a well carried out conspiracy, and means far more than the abduction of Mrs, Granger for ransom,” He touched a bell and the office boy ap- pearing was dispatched at once to request the chief of the Secret Service Bureau to come to the law office of Richards & Beall at once. The chief was found in his headquarters and soon appeared. He was well acquainted with the lawyer, and the two sat down for a talk together about the abduction of Mrs. Granger and the robbery of the safe. _ T have already put my men upon the kidnapping case, Mr. Beall, to get what clues they can, but my main reliance is upon that incomparabie ferret, Dick Doom, whom I telegraphed an hour ago to come here at once, if he is not engaged elsewhere upon a ¢ we Now, Jet me know what papers you lost from your safe?” | = 2 » es 4 * ’ ¢ 4 » eed TR ec FIRS 279 FY > ible Dt Ties ae ey y J } ee > ; 7, why or r . +a) a | ’ TA. at a + aX , s] ry A Se f i = : ” id - * 7 , “ . ‘* Well, sir, all the deeds and claims of th estate, with lists of all properties belonging to Mrs. Granger, and many important letters that cannot be replaced. ‘‘ In addition there were the papers gotten ready for the trial of that young scapegrace, Loyd Granger, and his accomplice, Wirt Westley, with the sworn statement and con- fession of the woman, Charlotte Hull, who, you know, was released from prison when the physicians pronounced her insane and who is now in the asylum,” ‘‘T always felt that that woman feigned madness, Mr. Beall.” ‘*1 feared so at first, but I could see no motive for it, as she saved herself by turn- ing State’s evidence, and not a pbysician who examined her who did not testify to her insanity.” ‘«'True, and she may be insane, yet I have my doubts; but, now to these stolen Granger papers.” ‘‘Yes, chief,” ‘‘Their loss will prevent the trial, you think?” ‘* Beyond all doubt, and clear the accused when tried.” ‘*Too bad; but, what does their loss mean in connection with the abduction of Mrs, Granger?” ‘‘T cannot understand it at all, yet there is a conspiracy in it, I feel assured—ah! here is the locksmith—no, it is the. youth I told you opened the safe. Come in, young man,” “What! Dick Doom, is that you?” and the chief sprung to his feet in surprise, as the young locksmith entered the private office of the lawyer. The seeming youth’s face flushed, he hesi- tated an instant, and then stepping forward, said with a smile: . “Yes, chief, I may as well confess, for this time you have penetrated my disguise— yes, Tam Dick Doom, the Ferret.” | CHAPTER Y. |. THK CHIEF’S SECRET, Tue lawyer looked amazed, at seeing Dick Doom, the famous ferret, revealed in the oung locksmith who had so cleverly opened is safe for him, _ He also looked as though he wanted an ex- planation. pS Mae! Dick Doom had shown such cleverness in selecting a new lock. for. the safe that his boss had allowed him to go in his stead to fit- it, feeling especially pleased that the youth had not held him to his offerof partnership, and refused to take the money offered by Lawyer Beall, leaving it for him, The chief regarded the young detective Milla the air of a man who had made a mis- take. | ‘‘T spoke too quick; I should not have betrayed him to Pama Beall, for the youth — is on some secret trai. ‘* But I have done it now, so] may as well. see what his motive is,” mused the chief. “Well, Dick, what does your present dis- guise mean?” he asked after a moment, while Dick Doom meanwhile was compla-_ cently working at the safe lock. ee ‘Tl tell you, chief: | ‘‘Tam on a little trail on my own account and intended only to report to you when I found out what I was after.” ‘T’ll guarantee it is in the Granger case,” ‘* It is, sir.” ‘You have some deep motive in this,” ‘‘T have, sir, and as there has been the ab- duction of ‘Mrs, Granger, and the robbery of Lawyer Beall, I will tell you my motive, sir. ‘‘T felt that there was something back of the murder of the two captains, the second Mrs. Granger, and the attempt to poison the resent me when her twin sister perished in r stead, ; ‘‘ Certain memories of my own caused me to determine to sift the whole mystery and unravel the knots for my own satisfaction, = a)