Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 853 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

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Her hair was snow-white and her eyes he - = 2 4 , a he * > os 3 eam ey in oo ee —_— —= =: . ~ 7. © ‘ . : r -- oe « a. co col . aa ‘ Pe ilag ~_* of A . -., * - : ; .* *”, ot ae . , . » CL « “. ~) 4 3 Ak oe ea ' » A * ad > = Pi a a 7) 4 6." 4 ’ tnd : , - ("eal 4? ‘ ee " a "4 9 . : Bele ; r * 5 ne * bd { o he ’ . 7 ‘ wit he ws : , ‘ / ar. | . ae E.. . : re a E> a —— Lay ha by 4 <- > a —_ Pt” Siu at 1 {p> PS Cre? -y a ¥" - \ Mie xt » x sake Kerns : £8 ih Dick Doom’s Kidna per Knock-Out. led % « Tee. oD. — qa ‘ - mr me : 7 > ee ~7" r P be . - ss ’ were shielded by spectacles, while upon her fingers she wore numerous rings, and gems were pendent from her ears, matched by a large breastpin that held her lace collar to- gether, “You wanted to see me?” she said in a | weak voice. ; ‘Tf you be Miss Carlotta Cameron, I O ? ‘Tam Miss Cameron, and you come from my friend Seth Saunders, [ hear?” ‘¢ Yes, ma’am.” ‘‘Why did he not come?” . “Weil, heis in hiding, for what I guess you know.” ‘**T can guess; but where is he?” ‘Gone West to settle.” ‘‘ Have you a letter for me?” ‘You be sure you are Miss Carlotta Cameron?” «¢ Oh, ree: ‘He didn’t talk as though you was sich an’ old lady.” ) ‘“‘T have aged much since I last saw him; but where is the letter?” ‘* Here it is, mum.” The detective took out the leather wallet and after awhile handed over a letter, with the remark: | ‘*This is his, for he said I had better take it along, as what you wrote for him was in it ” The woman took the letter and breaking the seal read it aloud. It was dated some days prior, at Seth. Saunders’s home, and was as follows: '**My DEeAR FRIEND:— ‘Since your escape I[ have been in hiding, for my home is constantly watched, ‘*T have signed the deeds for the sale of my farm and my wife is to sell it and follow me with my son and daughters, for I go abead to escape being tracked, and prepare a home for them. ‘“My brother Saul will hand you this, and I go to his ranch in Colorado, for he came at my call on him for help, ‘‘He isa fugitive himself from justice, having killed a man in our village some ears ago, and dare not venture further t than Chicago, where he is unknown. ‘*T give him my account book and wallet, with your I, O. U. written in it, and he will look you up, so please pay him the sum due me, waiving the fact that it was to bea personal demand, as that is impossible. ‘‘[T hope you will prosper, but should luck go against you come out and live with us; Saul will tell you how to find us, and you will receive a welcome and find a home. ‘Saul will receipt in full for me, but please give him the money and not a check, as he knows no one to identify him. ‘With goood wishes, ** Your Friend, ‘‘ SeTH SAUNDERS.” CHAPTER XVI. GOLD VERSUS CONSCIENCE, THe woman having finished reading the letter aloud, went over it again thoughtful- ly, but to herself, | Then she remained silent for full a min- ute before she spoke, the detective assuming an air of utter indifference the while. At last she said: ‘* Have you read this I. O. U. of mine?” “Yes, my. brother read it to me, and glanced over it.” | “Then you know that it demands a pay- ment to Seth Saunders in person only?” . «And yee h the payment “And yet he now requests the paymen to be made to you?” | ) us Under the circumstances he thought ; ~ ; - J 4 re Oe T2 Se Sa : 7 . a, ' deg a is al ‘ess ‘*T do not know about that.” si sp did his part faithfully, did he not?” ‘ec es,” ‘‘T don’t know just what service you de- manded, but you admit that it was done.” ‘*It was.” ‘‘He says I will receipt for him.” ‘* Yes.” “He wants the money, and unless you wish to get out of paying it, I should receive it.” ‘*T do not wish to get out of paying it, for what he did for me accomplished all I wished, and [ will pay it,” said the woman, thoughtfully. ‘‘My brother Seth said you were square, and he didn’t think you would refuse when you knew he dared not come himself,” ‘*T will not, so come to-morrow afternoon and I will have the money for you, as he does not wish it paid in a check. ‘You found me without any trouble, I see?” ‘* Yes, ma’am, I found you; but this is a big city, and Iam astranger, you know.” ‘* Yes, and your brother says that you are also a fugitive from justice?” ‘¢T killed a man and left home, forif I had remained they would have hanged me.” ‘*Would it hurt your coascience very much, seeing that it already has a human’ life to bear, if you killed another person, think you, of course meaning that you would be well paid for it?” ‘Do you want it done?” ‘‘T did not say who wished it done, merely asked you, if you felt that you could make some money by it, and a big sum too, if it would trouble your conscience too much to be guilty of it?” ‘* Maybe not; but it is not,an easy load to bear, the taking of a human life.” ‘Very true, but then a handsome sum in money might outweigh the terror of the deed, might it not?” | ‘*T’d like to think over it.” ‘* Well, think over it and come and see me to-morrow afternoon, for I will have your brother’s money for you, and we can talk over your making a sum even larger.” All right, ma’am, I'll come, for I know how much Seth thinks of you. ‘‘T cuess I’ll be going now,” and he arose from the chair, took his hat from the floor and continued: ‘*Good day, ma’am, Ill be here when you wish me to come.” ‘**Say at three o’clock then; but pull the bell, don't knock.” “That is what your girl told. me; but since 1 went West they have por a great many new-fangled notions that 1 don’t un- derstand.” ‘“T’ll be here on time,” and the pretended Saul Saunders left the room and was ushered out of the front door by the mistress herself, for there was a double belt, and two locks on it, which caused him to say: ‘‘My! but you must be awful scared of robbers here in Chicago; why I never bar my doors at the ranch, only keep my Winchester and revolvers handy in case an Injun or a renegade come along. ‘You would like the Wild West, if you came there to live.” Sof ‘‘ Perhaps so; but my aim is to live a life of luxury in the East, for my heart and soul are set upon it, and a fortune will drown all qualms of conscience, my friend,” and the woman spoke suddenly with remarkable vigor. ; a I have heard so, ma’am,” and the detec- tive stepped outside the door, stood on the pavement an instant, like one bewildered, and then walked off down the street muttering to Thia v, soe | bimself: ©€Thigs would break the contract as |. é ** Dick Doom, you are on the right track, and doing the cleverest piece of detective work of your life—yes, the beginning of the | end has come,” ‘ ~ , ’ rn ' ; ‘ a” - a ik. , ~ be ry <- leyee ¥) ade es ‘ Aer? 2 “4 . ; - age bea , a $ .) % fas : bd + a. . i rth : - * ra -< 2 see sa teal - - o ia¢ ‘ r oe ae st . rad ' “4a ® a: > to let him live.” : 3 ‘ ‘ or : 4 ell ; A vr ray i pete, MA wtSS De en tty i ian a yd ay ol al on a eke e ‘6h ’ y > SD gepd) @ ) @ ) | | CHAPTER XVII. A PLOT TO KILL. TRUE to his promise, the next day, at the appointed time, Dick Doom ascended the steps of Carlotta Cameron's house and rung the bell. After a short delay it was opened by the mistress herself, the Irish servant not ap- pearing. ‘‘Come in, Mr, Saunders, my servant is out on an errand, so I opened the door for you myself,” said the same old lady whom the detective had seen the day before, though, with an evident taste for dress, she wore a different robe now, and her lace cap was ornamented with ribbon. ‘*Come into the library and we will have a talk,” and securely bolting the door she led the way, explaining: ‘‘Living here as I do only with my ser- nag asa protector, I have to be very care- u -¥ ‘Saul Saunders” told her that she was very right to be careful, for he had already learned what a wicked city Chicago was, and had been told that robbery, murder and other crimes were of every-day occur- rence. ‘Yes, it isa very wicked city, indeed. ‘But now let me tell you that I have the money for you.” “Thank you, ma’am.” ‘Yes, I decided to pay it, and I will take your receipt—I have written it for you to sign,” and she handed him a piece of paper, on which was written: ‘‘T hereby acknowledge the receipt of fif- teen hundred dollars, which now cancels all indebtedness due my brother, Seth Saun- ders, by Carlotta Cameron, for services ren- dered,’ He read it once over and affixed his signa- ture in a cramped hand, and then counted over the money handed to him by the wo- — n. He counted it like one unused to handle large sums, and said: “Yes, I make it just fifteen hundred.” ‘‘Now, Mr. Saunders, as your brother served me welland faithfully, I feel that you will do the same.” ‘* How can 1?” ‘‘ You see that I have more money here?” ‘* Yes, ma’am,” ‘‘Well, there are two thousand dollars here.” ‘“*T see.” “Count it.” ’ ‘What for?” “ “Tt is for you.” ‘*For me?” ‘ce Yes.” “You want to buy me?” “Exactly.” “What to do?” ‘T bought your brother and paid him for his work,” ) ‘‘'That’s so.” ‘‘ He served me welland I believe you can serve me equally as well.” ‘* Maybe.” ‘“We spoke yesterday of the price of a human life.” — P “"¥ 68." ‘‘ Now there is one I wish out of the way, for his living will do an immense deal of harm.” ‘How so?” ‘He can give testimony that will cause both your brother and myself to go to pris- on,” , | ‘* No!” | ‘* Yes, and he will do it.” ‘* Who is he?” “ He is now in prison himself, but he will be offered his life, for he is accused of mur- der, if he will betray others.” ‘And he can?” } : ‘¢ Yes, he knows too much for it to be safe poe er ee. nk Se =f a 4" r - + eel. 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