Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 881 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

uJ Turkey Billy. a train under the plea of taking you out of | should not triumph. Over Harry Weston there reach of your enemy, and be off faraway with you before you could recover from the excite ment of theescape. It wasa deeply-laid plot. Fortunately his arrest prevented it. I have his confession, written and signed, which you sball see when you will.” She had fallen back into her chair,and was gazing at him with distended and frightened eyes, in which doubt struggled with belief. : Hecaught her hand passionately and drew her | unresjsting!y to ber feet. ‘* Little you know of the perils of orphan girls in this great and wicked city,” he cried. ‘* We must fly at once. There is no safety for you or mein this building. You are surrounded here with enemies, tion, dear one. Suffer metocall you mine. It is your only safety. Come with me. I will be your friend, protector and husband im one.” He drew her toward the door. in a dazed manner, asif not half knowing what she did. ~It seemed as if the wolf had got the lambin his toils and would entangle her in the net oi calm judgment. Fortunately for her, others were working in her behalf. As they neared the door it was flung open from outside, and the youthful fig- ure of Billy Turk filled the opening! ‘*No you don’t, Mr. Morton,” he said. “I’ve been listening, and I tell you it was a pretty lay, but it won't work, Let go that rascal’s and, Nelly Brown. It’shim, the big thief, that brung you here, and not Harry Weston, who is chucked in prison by this big thief jist to keep bim cut of the way.” Her eyes dilated with hope and fear as she tore her hand from Morton's grasp. ‘You did not tell this man that | was here?” she demanded, ‘‘Me? Tell him? Much I did! I reckon he knowed it himeelf ten times better than I did. Oh, he’s a rum scamp, you bet!” During the minute in which these words were being spoken, Morton's face bad turned from red to pale, his eyes blazed with a baleful light, his lips were compressed with irrepressible fury. He sprung upon the boy, who had not time to escape from his clutch, and grasped him by the throat with the deadly force of batred and re- venge. Billy had only time to give vent to a low whistle, which rung through the house. “ You young cur! you have escaped me twice fore; I'll do for you now!” hissed the infuri- ated wretch, as he cumpressed the boy's throat | with murderous energy. Nelly ran to his rescue, and strove to tear away those fury-strengthened bands, but in vain. it seemed asif the boy would die in the choking grasp of his assailant. But, his whistle had taken effect, and rapid | Put yourself under my protec- | still hung the darkcharge of breach of trust and robbery, and his late employer was determined to hunt him to a felon’s cell. One week after the date of the events just narrated the case of Harry Weston was called at the bar, for preliminary examination. This cdse, together: with that against his ac- cuser, for abduction, had excited much atten- tion, and there was a considerable audience present in the court, among them nearly all those whom we have met in these pages, with the exception of Jerry Jenkins, who, being un- able to obDtaim bail, was in prison on a charge of aiding in the abduction of Nelly Brown. There was a look of satirical triumph or Mor- ton’s face, as he sat beside his counsel. He had woren his net of evidence strong and wide, and head no fear of his victim escaping its meshes. | Revenge seemed yet in bis hands. She followed | @ marriage before she could recover her | The case was opened by the plaintiff’s lawyer ina short but strong speech, which left the de- fendant without a virtue upon the earth. He was everything vile, base, deceitful, and treach- erous, of which the legal] orator could think. Such an instance of ungrateful treachery had | never been known before, if one could believe ' ) this limb of the law. Edward Morton was called as the first witness for the prosecution. After the preliminary questions as to name, age, residence, etc., the lawyer remarked to bim: “Will you please, Mr. Morton, tell your story | briefly to the court? What do you know con- cerning the charge against the prisoner at the bar?” ‘* Henry Weston has been in my employment | for the past eigat years,” he began in a quiet and decided tone. ‘* For three years past be bas bad full charge of my financial affairs, and bas enjoyed my utmost confidence. ! had no reason to suspect him of any lack of honesty until a | week or two ago, when | received a letter warn- | ing me against bim, and informing me that he was engaged in speculation, and had been losing | to. ‘* Is that letter in evidence?” asked the judge. “It is here, your Honor,” replied the lawyer, , passing it up to the bench. The judge ran his eyes over it. ‘* This writer, Jacob Jones, do you know bim?” be asked. ‘‘No, sir. He has not revealed himself. The letter is anonymous.” “Ah! Well, proceed, sir.” ‘There was but one thing for me to do,” con- tinued Morton. ‘‘ A defalcation could not well be carried out without showing itself on my books. I engaged a skillful accountant, put my books in his bands and bade him make a thor- ough examination, What he found there, your Honor, he can best state. I need but further re- steps were vow heard rushing toward the room. | mark that I had Mr. Weston arrested on the Two men entered, the foremost being De | strength of his repo who sprung to the relief of the | ? tective Plum, boy. Morton's fingers were clutched like vise-clasps round his throat. One vain effort to loosen them was made by the officer, and then, step- ying back, he struck the villain a powerful low in the throat, that felled him like a log to | his story, and his evidence continu His unnerved fingers released the | the floor. half-strangled boy as be fell. The second person who had entered spru ! ' : / rt.” “That will do, Mr. Morton; you may step “One moment,” broke in Weston’s counsel. ““T have some questions to ask you, sir.” The cross-examination, however, brougbt out nothing of importance. Morton kept firmly to unshaken. ‘“‘ William Harvey,” the accountant, was next called. We need not give his evidence in detail. witha cry of joy toward the fair captive, and | will suffice to say that it sustained the charges | which Mr. Morton bad made. He had subjected clasped ber in bis arms. “Nelly! My darling!” he whispered. are saved, you are free at last, thank Heaven!” | ough It was Harry Weston, who had been released | ing lvaccuracies. from prison on bail. much more money than his salary amounted 7) : | ‘anda powerful one, too. It | “You | the account-books of that gentleman to a thor- | ough examination, and bad found certain glar- | A flual balance showed that | | six thousand and some odd dollars were missing, ‘‘You didn't come much too soon.” cried the | which were unaccounted for in the cash entries. | boy, ruefully rubbing his throat. “*‘A minute more and I'd bave been done for; and then what would have become of New York, Id like to know?” Morton by this time was rising gloomily and surlily to his feet. “ You are my prisoner, Edward Morton,” said the detective, “for the crime of abduction. Your confederate has been taken and bas con- fessed, and your career of crime is at an end.” CHAPTER XV. BROUGHT TO BAY. JvsrTice for once had triumpbed. The villain- ous abductor had been caugbt at the very mo ment of bis anticipated success, and all through the skill and activity of the Shine-’em-up Detec- tive, Turkey Billy Bat, the villain had not yet payee his last eard. of or bis wife the woman whom be risked so much to he was determined that at all events rival ‘* How far back do these errors or false entries run?” asked Weston’s lawyer, after the other at- torney had finished his questions. ** About three months.” *“* You found no error of an earlier date?” ** No, sir. back.” “You did not? Way not?” ‘‘ Mr. Morton did not consider it necessary.” “ Ah! and why?” “ He gave no reasons, sir.” ‘It was because—” Morton. ** That will do, Mr. Morton. You are not on the witness-stand now,” remarked the justice, severely. A few more questions and the witness was re- leased. Some minor witnesses were examined, whose evidence was of no importance, and the case for the ution closed. The case for the defense was next opened, the lawyer dwelling strongly on his client’s character and reputation, which he off to I did not examine closely further | — : ; ; ~ prove by numerous witnesses. His opening was weak, however, and it was evident that he con- sidered the case shaky. It looked decidedly black for Harry Weston. This gentleman was first called upon to give his statement of theaffair. His strongest point was that the books had been tampered with, that the false entries had been made by other hands than his, and that his employer was his enemy and had been seeking toruin him. He was going on to state why, when he was checked by the op- posite lawyer. ‘‘This evidence cannot be admitted. It has no bearing on the case before the court,” he de- clared, strongly. ‘*As you please, sir. It is fortunate that the court knows it already,”’ answered Harry, with a home-thrust. Morton’s connection with the abduction was indeed well-known to the court, ‘* You are a practical and skillful accountant, Mr. Weston, I believe?” asked the prosecuting attorney. ‘*T bave had some experience, sir.” ‘‘ How is it, then, that false entries could be made by other hands in your books and you not discover the fact?” ‘‘] amunabie tosay,” answered Harry, doubt- fully. ‘‘ I must confess that for several months past my mind has been somewhat distracted from my work.” “ That is a lame answer, Mr. Weston,” ‘* He fell in love, and she said she’d have him. That’s what’s the matter,” broke in Billy Turk. ‘‘ And I reckon the judge will say that’s enough to twist any man’s brains.” The roar of laughter that broke out in the court at this exclamation could not be stilled for several minutes. ‘‘And, what's more, judge,” cried Billy, as soon as his voice could be heard, ‘* Morton kid- napped his girl and doctored the books while he was hunting her up. Anybody knows that ain’t a square deal.” ‘*Silence that dreadful boy!” exclaimed the justice, angrily. ‘* Take him out of court.” “Tm a witness, judge,” continued Billy, You can’t do with- out me,” ‘‘ Keep still, there! If you intermupt again I will jock you up. Remember.” Billy subsided. This was more than he cared to undergo. The prosecution next declared that there was no perceptible difference in the handwriting, and called the accountant again to testify to that fact. He was somewhat doubtful, how- ever. He thought so, but could not be sure. The books were placed before the judge, at his request, and the questionable entries ~ointed out to him. The next witnesses called by the defense were to prove the good character of ibe defendant. ‘* William Turk,” was now called. “I'm glad you’ve took me off that muzzle, judge,” remarked the irrepressible boy, *‘ fer I’ve been bursting to talk, And I reckon when I’m done you won’t want po more witnesses,” ‘* Silence!” again eXclaimed the judge. ‘* What do you know about the case?” asked the lawyer, retaining his gravity with an ef- fort. ‘*‘T know Morton's a sneak and that this is a put-up job of the worst sort,” began Billy. ‘‘ Hush, boy! Thisis notevidence. Tell what you know. Not what you think.” “Judge,” continued Billy, turning to the bench. ‘‘Itain’t out of order to hand up a let- ter for youtoread,isit? T’other side banded up one, you know,” ‘“‘ Not if it has any bearing on the case.” ‘* Well, | reckon fs has! the biggest kind of a bearing,” returned Billy, as he tbrust bis band into an inner pocket and drew out a much-soiled envelope. CHAPTER XVT. THE FINISHING SHINE-’EM-UP. ALL looked on curiously. This was an unex- ted mode of procedure. Weston raised his - with hopeful expectation, while a look of nervous doubt came into Morton’s eyes. ‘‘ This letter has not been opened,” remarked the judge. ‘No, sir. It was given me to post, and I was- n’t going to rob the mail by opening it. But I didn’t say when I'd post it. “Then what do you know about its contents?” “ See all, judge. Buti can guess a powerful ‘* It is addressed to Edward Morton.” ‘“To me?” cried that individual starting rp. “Then I claim it. A sealed letter, addressed ~» i TR